Over the next two and a half years the entire line of Mercedes Benz vehicles will be switched to turbocharged engines according to a report in Automotive News.

At a press event Daimler board member Thomas Weber, who is in charge of research and development, told Automotive News Europe, "All our vehicles will have turbocharged engines in series production by the end of 2010 at the latest."

The move comes in anticipation of legislation pending in both Europe and the United States that will force carmakers to produce vehicles with lower emissions.

Turbochargers accomplish the required reduction by reducing fuel consumption without significantly increasing the price of the car because they can be paired with lighter, smaller engines that are fuel-efficient without scrimping on performance.

The European Commission is asking for an average emissions cut of 178 grams per kilometer to 138 g/km by 2012 or face fines. Daimler is forestalling this possibility by first working on engine efficiency before introducing more hybrid technology.

The Mercedes flagship S class, for instance, will be offered as a full hybrid beginning in 2009. The long-term goal for Mercedes-Benz is to achieve zero emissions, probably via fuel cells and electric vehicles. The company's sister brand Smart is putting a full-electric ForTwo into production in 2010.