As part of a comprehensive strategic product initiative the most important commercial vehicle manufacturer - Mercedes-Benz AG - is step by step renewing its entire product range. This primarily refers to the heart of the vehicles - the engine.
After the OM 457 LA, which was developed together with DDC for the special American market demands and which is produced and sold in the U.S.A. by DDC under the label “Series 55”, has had its premiere in Freightliner's Century Class, the OM 904 LA will now follow in the light commercial vehicle class. This engine has a completely new concept of a direct-injection, highly sophisticated turbocharged four-cylinder in-line engine with air-to-air intercooler, whose main characteristics can be outlined by the terms “multi-valve technology”, high-pressure injection via unit pumps” and “electronic engine control”. This “small” engine has several interesting features, which - up to now - were only known from class 8 engines.
In addition to fulfilling increased customer demands with regard to long service life, easy maintenance, reliability and economy, great attention was paid during the design of the engine to not only fulfil the global regulations, but also account for sufficient potential to comply with further aggravations to be expected.
The most important design features and the attained engine ratings are indicated and explained in detail.