Däs boost: All Mercedes cars to be turbocharged by 2010

For those of you who still mourn the passing of the C32 AMG and its silken supercharged six, take solace.

Within the next 30 months, Mercedes-Benz will roll out a series of smaller displacement turbocharged engines to improve gas mileage without sacrificing performance.

Emissions compliance is also a factor in the decision to choose forced induction over big displacement. The EU will begin to fine automakers whose fleet CO2 output exceeds 178 grams per km starting in 2012. Without resorting to smaller, force-fed engines, the fleet will not comply with the new law.

A similar emissions law is under consideration in the US Congress.
Incidentally, the S-class übersedan will be offered with a full hybrid drivetrain by 2009.

In the announcement, Daimler board member and R&D chief Thomas Weber also said that a zero-emission production vehicle is among the auto maker's long-term goals. In addition to electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cells are also being considered for future Benzes.

A full-electric version of the ForTwo from Mercedes sister brand Smart will go into production in 2010.