Big sedans with thrifty clean diesel engines are par for the course across the pond, but around here buyers just can’t seem to get out of the V8 rut. That’s exactly why European S-Class buyers may be able to look forward for a new diesel and we can’t. Mercedes-Benz is supposedly interested in selling the S-Class with a new clean diesel four-cylinder. Though a 2.2-liter engine may seem like an odd choice for a sprawling expanse of German luxury, rumor has it the tiny mill will get a shot in the arm from two turbochargers.

With the lords of forced induction lending a hand, the engine should be good for a modest 201 horsepower and a stump-pulling 384 lb-ft of torque. Those figures should be more than enough to glide the car’s 4,600 lbs along without issue. This all comes from Autocar, so who knows whether Mercedes-Benz has any actual plans to give S-Class buyers a down-sized engine or not.

We do know it’s pretty unlikely the car will ever show up in the United States if it does go into production. Amercian buyers can’t get the taste of bad GM diesels out of their mouths, and Mercedes-Benz already sells an “efficient” S400 Hybrid.

Source Autocar via Autoblog