Spied: Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid

Mercedes-Benz appears to be close to launching a hybrid version of its S-Class luxury sedan. Called the S400, the gas-electric car is believed to be built around a 275-horsepower V6 with lithium batteries and regenerative braking.


The S400 is likely to deliver fuel economy of 30 miles per gallon. Last year, Mercedes previewed an S300 Bluetec Hybrid, which was based on a four-cylinder gas engine. It appears the German automaker decided customers would prefer a more powerful setup.

It's not known if Mercedes plans to introduce other S-Class models with hybrid powertrains. It's fair to assume Mercedes would eventually like to compete with the Lexus LS600h, which deliver 430 horsepower from a hybrid V8 powertrain.

[Source: LeftLaneNews.com]

Funny that they were to lazy to de-badge the car.

LOL they obviously wanted it to be seen. I wonder how this will be positioned in the range and how it will be marketed. Hopefully no Lexus like BS!

Was the S-class designed with hybrid drivetrain in mind? I don't think it is, otherwise it wouldn't have taken MB engineers that long to release the hybrid version. It will be interesting to see how well the S-class hybrid compare to cars that are designed with hybrid in mind.

I doubt it was because clearly the Germans dismissed hybrids at first. The only way MB/BMW/GM/Chrysler would ever join forces is to catch up to Toyota/Honda. You know they purposely left those badges on their to take advantage of the hybrid worshipers here in the U.S. who would see this. I wonder if this will come before or after the facelift.

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I think the reason why Toyota is the leader in hybrids is because of the Japanese stigma against diesels. In their homemarket, Toyota virtually sells zero diesel engines except for their trucks and some SUVs.

In Europe it is different. Diesels are gaining in popularity like never before and you can virtually get a diesel engine option for every single model from various manufacturers. Hence the Europeans are obviously ahead in the diesel game while the Japanese lead in the hybrid sector.

I do think that Toyota/Lexus simply market hybrids in the wrong way. Most people I talked to seem to think that hybrids deliver good fuel economy no matter what. The truth is that hybrids only deliver good fuel economy in the city. I suppose the Prius is decent, but the Lexus hybrids are just so overrated. Somone please tell me how an overweight GS450h, with a powerful V6 gasoline engine and heavy batteries and hybrid setup, is supposed to deliver good fuel economy outside of the city?

Don't get me started. The Sydney Morning Hearld interviewed an owner of the RX400h, and as usual the owner took the moral high ground and saying that "the car is very environmental friendly" Why don't she get a Prius if she really give a dam. The owner could lose some weight as well, that will probably help improve the fuel consumption more than anything else, and she can also fit inside the Prius.

Hello hybrid. CAR Magazine has caught Mercedes’ first hybrid model testing in Scandinavia before a European launch in mid-2009. This is the S400 Hybrid, and our spy shot under the big limo’s bonnet appears to show Merc’s second big step towards going green – the first was their NOx-busting Bluetec technology.

The S400 Hybrid will come with a 274bhp petrol V6, but mated to a hybrid module the S400 will have a total of 295bhp and 277lb ft. That means 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds but more importantly 35.8mpg and just 190g/km CO2. The equivalent 262bhp S350 will only do 28mpg while producing 242g/km CO2.

So what’s the hybrid technology like?

Somewhat complicated but there’s a disk-shaped electric engine that also acts as the starter motor meaning this S-class will have a stop/start system. The electric motor also helps to boost performance when accelerating, while under braking it acts as a generator, recovering braking energy. This energy is stored in lithium-ion batteries mounted in the engine compartment.

The technology has been developed in conjunction with BMW and GM. The Amercians have already shown the hybrid system in various SUVs, while BMW will use the technology in the new 7-series and X6.

And if I want my limo a little cleaner…

…You’ll have to wait a little longer. Mercedes is also readying two diesel hybrids, the S300 and S400. The S300 Bluetec Hybrid will appear first in 2010 and offer a frankly stunning 52.3mpg. Combined with Bluetec technology the S300 will also only produce 142g/km CO2. There’s no word from Mercedes yet on what diesel engine will power the S300, but the all-new E-class will come in 2010 as an E300 Bluetec powered by a 2.2-litre four-cylinder engine. Whether S-class buyers will accept anything less than six cylinders remains to be seen.

If you still want to be clean and green though, but with a little more power then the S400 Bluetec Hybrid will be along after 2010. Combined with the hybrid module the diesel V6 will produce 261bhp and 464lb ft, while still averaging 48.7mpg and emitting 154g/km CO2

How else are Merc going green?

Later this year we’ll see a CNG-powered B-class, and there’s already diesel and petrol hybrid Smart cars on the road, as well as electric versions. The M-class (which is facelifted this year) will gain hybrid power in 2009, 2010 will see a fuel-cell B-class, and 2011 will bring us a C300 Bluetec Hybrid.

In the meantime 2008 will see Bluetec technology reaching the R, ML and GL in 320CDI form. Whether these cars make it to the UK is another matter, as despite an 80 percent reduction in CO2, Bluetec technology currently increases CO2 output by a few points and therefore makes the system useless under Britain's current CO2 ratings system.

Beyond Bluetec and hybrids Mercedes' third step will be the Diesotto engine due in 2014. Read all about it here.

Beyond that 2014/15 puts us in diesoot tech


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