Mercedes-Benz unveils eco-car

German car maker Mercedes-Benz has joined the recent trend of releasing an eco-friendly vehicle.

The new environmentally friendly, C-Class 180 Kompressor BlueEfficiency saloon will be available from January.

It replaces the existing C-Class model without any increase in purchase price.

The C180′s fuel-saving engine reduces petrol consumption by 11% and CO2 emissions by 19% to 149 grams per kilometre.

This allows the car to run at 45 mpg, and cuts road tax by 30 percent – giving high earners a potential saving of £370 per year in tax.

Mercedes’ key to fuel efficiency has been in reducing engine size by 200cc to 1.8 litres whilst maintaining power at 156bhp.

A gearshift indicator tells drivers the optimum point to change gear for eco-friendly driving.

In addition, low rolling-resistance tyres, smaller streamlined exterior mirrors, and an energy management system that activates power steering only when it is needed all help to make the car more eco-friendly.

Prices for the C180 Blue Efficiency start at £23,350, with the estate model priced at £24,757