When most individuals consider diesel engines, they typically image heavy-duty vehicles and locomotives — or they could recall Volkswagen’s Dieselgate scandal – however diesel energy truly made its passenger automotive debut practically a century in the past. Whereas the 1936 Mercedes-Benz 260 D is commonly credited as the primary manufacturing automotive with a diesel engine, the total story goes again a bit farther and consists of earlier prototypes — plus a shock look from a French automaker.
The diesel engine takes its moniker from its inventor, Rudolf Diesel, who patented his first-of-its-kind compression ignition engine within the Nineties. Not like gasoline engines, which use spark plugs to ignite air and gas throughout the combustion chamber, diesel engines depend on compressing air to intense pressures and temperatures earlier than injecting gas. The ensuing combustion shouldn’t be solely highly effective, however extremely environment friendly. These qualities made it excellent for each industrial and industrial use.
Early purposes of diesel energy have been seen in ships, trains, and factories as a result of these large engines have been far too heavy for the compact private automobiles of the time. It wasn’t till the early twentieth century that automakers started to noticeably experiment with smaller, extra roadworthy variations.
Enter the Benz
Mercedes-Benz unveiled the 260 D – internally designated the W 138 – on the Berlin Motor Present within the spring of 1936. It was a pullman landaulet mannequin that would comfortably seat six that was powered by a 2.6-liter four-cylinder diesel engine and boasting a modest 45 horsepower. It wasn’t showy or notably highly effective, but it surely was environment friendly, dependable, and consumed much less gas than its gas-powered counterparts.
Mercedes put it into full manufacturing in September of that 12 months, promoting practically 2,000 items between its introduction and December 1940. They launched three sedan variations along with the flagship pullman, which grew to become notably in style with taxi operators who have been extremely appreciative of its gas effectivity. The 260 D’s significance is not that it was the very first diesel powered car, however moderately that it was the primary diesel-powered passenger automotive produced at scale and marketed to on a regular basis drivers. Its OM138 engine set an ordinary for sturdiness and gas financial system that will change into the hallmark of diesel engines for years.
Nonetheless, simply because Mercedes-Benz made it to manufacturing and sale to most of the people first doesn’t imply that French automaker Citroën would not deserve its justifiable share of the credit score for the diesel engine’s launch. Three years earlier than the debut of the 260 D, Citroën fitted one in every of their 7U Rosalie fashions with a diesel engine, and constructed a handful of profitable prototypes based mostly on the 7U platform. Whereas these automobiles weren’t out there to the general public or produced in amount, they have been drivable and road-tested.
Diesel’s legacy and future
So whereas most historians acknowledge that Mercedes-Benz deserves credit score for being the primary to actually produce a diesel passenger automotive at scale, Citroën rightly deserves recognition for exhibiting that diesel wasn’t simply an thought for tractors, vehicles, and tankers. It offered a glimpse of the longer term the place diesel engines might be refined, road-worthy, and at dwelling in a client car.
Although diesel passenger automobiles by no means actually took off within the U.S. market, they grew to become staples throughout Europe, notably within the many years publish WWII. Mercedes-Benz’ 260 D and its subsequent iterations laid the groundwork for future diesel automobiles produced by different European automakers like Fiat and Volkswagen. In 1978, Mercedes-Benz was first once more with its introduction of the turbodiesel 300 CD and 300SD with turbocharged engines delivering much more refinement and efficiency.
In the present day, diesel engines stay ubiquitous in industrial purposes — trucking, agricultural automobiles, and transport. Nevertheless, these engines have confronted scrutiny lately within the face of tighter and tighter emissions laws and the rise of EVs. We do not but know precisely what the longer term holds for restrictions on diesel engines, as mandates are largely affected by the shifting political tides, however its clear that they are right here to remain in some type or trend.
The 1936 Mercedes-Benz 260 D wasn’t quick — and positively could not haul heavy masses — but it surely did show that diesel may work in a passenger automotive, paving the best way for a brand new period of automotive engineering. For that, it earns its place within the diesel corridor of fame, sharing the highlight with the Citroën that quietly held the door open for its arrival.