Aug
10th
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Even the upper reaches of the market aren't immune from the pressures of government regulations.
When you look at the specs of the Mercedes S350 Bluetec and see that its diesel engine produces only 240 hp, you might think that the two-ton-plus sedan would feel underpowered. Not so, thanks to a prodigious 455 lb-ft of torque. All that torque means that the power is available even at low revs -- from 1600 rpm, in fact -- which means that the S350 doesn't feel slow or sluggish, especially in city driving. And once at speed on the highway, the S350 wafts along effortlessly, effectively insulating you from the baser elements -- noise, vibration, harshness.
Photo Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTEC - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine