Spoke to my dealership today and they seem very excited (enough to call me), even the service guys seem interested. I went to the MB website and gleaned the following data for the E320CDI on sale in Europe:

No. of cylinders / arrangement 6/in-line
Bore/stroke (mm) 88.0/88.3
Total displacement (cc) 3,222
Rated output (kW at rpm)2 150/4,200
Rated torque (Nm at rpm)2 500/1,800-2,600
Compression ratio 18.0
Acceleration 0 -100 km / h (s) 7.7
Top speed approx. (km / h) 243
Tyre size 225/55 R 16
Fuel diesel as per DIN EN 590
Fuel consumption (l/100 km)3
city / extra-urban / combined 9.4/5.4/6.9
CO2 emission (g/km)3 183
Tank capacity (l) , incl. reserve, approx. 80/9
Luggage capacity (l) 540
Turning circle diameter (m) 11.4
Kerb weight (kg)4 1,735
Perm. GVW (kg) 2,260

Which can be compared to the gas E320 stats:

No. of cylinders / arrangement 6/V
Bore/stroke (mm) 89.9/84.0
Total displacement (cc) 3,199
Rated output (kW at rpm)2 165/5,600
Rated torque (Nm at rpm)2 315/3,000-4,800
Compression ratio 10.0
Acceleration 0 -100 km / h (s) 7.7
Top speed approx. (km / h) 245
Tyre size 225/55 R16
Fuel premium unleaded as per
DIN EN 228
Fuel consumption (l/100 km)3
city / extra-urban / combined 14.4/7.5/9.9
CO2 emission (g/km)3 238
Tank capacity (l) , incl. reserve, approx. 80/9
Luggage capacity (l) 540
Turning circle diameter (m) 11.4
Kerb weight (kg)4 1,645
Perm. GVW (kg) 2,170

Which explains the availability of the new 3.5 liter gas engines in Europe, but not the equal acceleration with nearly twice the torque up to 2500 rpm favoring the Diesel. The Diesel must be geared for mileage (it gets a calculated 43.7 mpg compared to the calculated 31.5, using the DIN highway cycle test data noted above), and there must be a policy that the Diesel can't have stats that outperform the gas car, yet. Imagine averaging over 30 mpg and going to 60 in under 7.7 seconds. The MB site confirms the engine is an inline 6. Which is awesome. Unfortunately this car only comes with an automatic, even in Deutschland. So, another forced compromise.

Can't wait to drive one of these even withthe auto. Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)