Mercedes-Benz USA makes some changes to the lineup for the 2010 model year with new and revised diesel models and hybrids launching. First up, the existing diesel SUVs get new names with the ML320, R320 and GL320 getting a bump to ML350, GL350 and R350. As far as we know, nothing has actually changed for the second year of these 50-state legal BlueTec diesels other than the badges and a light cosmetic facelift for the GL that debuted at the New York Auto show.



In August it will bring with it the initial availability of Mercedes' first hybrid. The 2010 S400 equipped with a mild hybrid system will be the first widely available hybrid car with a lithium ion battery. On December, the ML450 hybrid will debut Mercedes' implementation of two mode hybrid technology. Early in 2010, the new Tier 2 Bin 5 compliant E350 BlueTec with urea injection goes on sale in the U.S. using the same 3.0-liter V6 diesel power train found in the SUVs.