No, your eyes do not deceive you: the latest news from Mercedes-Benz concerns the 190 saloon - a model launched in 1983. To demonstrate the advances in diesel engine technology Mercedes has put its latest diesel engine from a C 250 CDI BlueEfficiency in a 190-series body to create the 190 D BlueEfficiency.
The genesis of this car was an evening discussion about how to demonstrate the progress made in engine technology independently of the advances made in safety and comfort over the years. No doubt there was plenty of beer involved. The result is 'a factory-tuned car of a different kind'. Instead of the 74bhp 2.0-litre diesel originally installed, a 2.2-litre engine with 201bhp is fitted. Torque is 368lb.ft between 1,600- and 1,800rpm. To put those figures in perspective the original 190 D had 74bhp and the 2.5-litre 16-valve, petrol model had a similar power output, but less than half the torque.
As expected, the new engine provides a significant performance boost. The 0-62mph time is claimed to be 6.2 seconds - 11.9 seconds faster than the 190 D and 0.8 seconds ahead of the modern C-Class. You can credit the difference to the 385kg weight advantage in favour of the older car. The lack of excess kilos also enables the 190 to beat its younger relative on fuel consumption with 57.6mpg on the combined cycle - compared to 55.4mpg. With its original engine the 190 D would only have managed 38.7mpg.
Mercedes points out that the current C-Class is more spacious (and considerably larger) than the 190 and that the new car offers a higher level of safety and more standard equipment. The first owner of a 190 couldn't have imagined electronic stability control, adaptive brakes and multiple airbags.
The point has been made that diesel-engined cars have come a long way in the last 20 years. However Mercedes has also, if unintentionally, shown that saving a little weight would make today's cars even better. The challenge is to do that without sacrificing the refinement, comfort, safety and equipment we have come to take for granted.
John Lambert - 4 Sep 2009