German Car Zone

Mercedes-Benz Vision S 500 Plug-in HYBRID Concept - Exclusive first details

By Michael Gauthier
September 9, 2009 3:35 PM

Set to be officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the concept will feature a V6 petrol engine connected to an advanced lithium-ion battery that has a storage capacity of more than 10 kWh. This unique setup will allow the S-Class to travel up to 30km (18.6 miles) on electricity alone. When the battery is depleted, the 44 kW (60 hp) hybrid module will activate the petrol engine. While the specifics are still kind of murky, the car will rocket from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds.
In terms of efficiency, the Vision S 500 plug-in hybrid will consume just 3.2L/100km (73.5 mpg) while emitting 74 grams of CO2/100km. This easily beats the Fisker Karma's estimated rating of 3.5L/100km (67.2 mpg) and 83 grams of CO2/km.

According to Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, "The Vision S 500 HYBRID is a new milestone on our path toward zero-emission mobility. It is a luxurious and safe S-Class vehicle that offers superior driving performance while at the same time consuming less fuel than current compacts. All of this shows that our top models will also be able to combine automotive fascination with responsibility for the environment."

Look for more information to be released when the car officially debuts in Frankfurt.


Source: GCF

And, the big question is:

Why the pre-FL and not the FL?

Besides it really doesn't matter what they base it on, we probably won't see it in production until the next S-Class arrives anyway.

M

Suddenly the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics doesn't seem so impressive at all considering this is a full fledged exectutive sedan.

Great specs.

Pre FL looks OLD.

Lovely, this is what a hybrid should be like, when the tech becomes cheaper and put in a C-class for the masses... wow...

I would say they've been working on this for a while if under the skin is indeed a working prototype.

They really should show it in FL skin.

i still marvel at why manufacturers insist on pairing hybrid modules with large petrol engines and on shwcasing them in the larger sedans. i understand that marketing an s-class with tech nnovations is easier than say a C-class.
but the real world benefits are not there. this just shows that for a large segment of the automobile world hybrids are not driven by some eco minded assumptions, but by pure profit. i can charge a high premium for a S400Hybrid, or LS600H, higher than aa comparably powered car with similar speed, and then i would have the customer thank god i am providing him with a greener product while in fact the production of the battery alone produced more C02 than he will drive in his entire life.

point is all these exercises are nice, but only when hybrids get democratized and are avaiable in the smaller models and the cheaper brands will they make the effect touted by the idealist green horns of today. and unless smaller engines, diesels more specifically enter the equation, this S-class like the LS600, the SLS electric and so forth will remain nothing more than marketing hype, and profit makers for the companies.

what's the cost of downsizing the tech and making viable for mass production in a C-class? i don't think much, but it will reduce the nvoelty of the hybrid, lower its marketing effect, and remove the ability to charge a hefty premium.