Hope it hasn't already been posted in the forum.
http://www.germancarfans.com/news.cfm/newsid/2041216.002/mercedes/1.html
Looks like the end of all inline 6 motors from MB. Also the end of 5 cylinder diesel production.
If you dont want to click the link, here is the intro:
Agility and driving pleasure as standard
Mercedes-Benz is presenting a new V6 diesel engine which will replace the previous in-line five and six-cylinder engines from spring 2005. With an output of 165 kW/224 hp and a maximum torque of 510 Newton metres, the Mercedes six-cylinder is one of the most powerful units in its class. Thanks to the latest technology, the exhaust emissions meet the stringent EU4 limits; in addition Mercedes-Benz equips the V6 engine with a particulate filter as standard in Germany.
The concept of diesel driving pleasure achieves a new quality with the new CDI engine. As the successor to the five and six-cylinder in-line engines it offers an increase in output and torque of up to 38 percent, ensuring faster acceleration, brisk intermediate sprints and a higher top speed. The maximum torque of 510 Newton metres is already available from 1600 rpm, and remains constant up to 2800 rpm. Accordingly the new V6 has torque characteristics which are unsurpassed in this displacement class. In combination with the unique 7GTRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission, this ensures the best possible exploitation of the remarkable output and torque potential in any driving situation.
Despite a significantly higher output, the fuel consumption remains at the exemplary level of the previous five and six-cylinder diesel engines.
The choice of materials, design, fuel injection and engine management system reflect the state of the art. As a world first for a diesel engine in this displacement and output class, Mercedes-Benz has developed an aluminium crankcase with cast-in grey iron cylinder liners for this unit which makes a major contribution to weight reduction. As a result, the new V6 weighs a total of only approx. 208 kilograms (acc. to DIN) and is therefore only very slightly heavier than the previous five-cylinder engine. The power-to-weight ratio has increased by more than 20 percent to 0.79 kW/kg – a major contribution to the outstanding diesel agility offered by the new engine.
The engine block, components and ancillary units form a very compact entity, which means that in future the new V6 will also be installed in Mercedes model series and 4MATIC variants where no six-cylinder diesel engine was previously offered.
Info from DCX