Fast and Frugal Mercedes M-Class Hybrid Could Soon be a Reality

Lexus RX 400h Might Have Competition Sooner than Originally Thought

With all the flashing lights, booming music and bold sales projections that make up one of the world's major auto shows,

Sometimes automotive jewels, such as Mercedes-Benz' new hybrid drivetrain, can get overlooked amid the excitement of a major auto show.

it's often easy to overlook some items on display at that may be subtle in presentation, but nevertheless more dramatic in overall significance to the automotive market and the world in general.

Take, for instance, the unique 4x4 transmission joined to a pair of integrated electric motors on the floor at Mercedes' display during this year's Detroit auto show. While journalists bustled about to get a better view of the second-generation M-Class, and the swanky CLS four-door coupe, the seemingly ordinary gearbox that sat on a lone pedestal amid the flashy metal got little attention.

In reality, it was a great deal more than a big hint that Mercedes-Benz is preparing a hybrid version of its all-new M-Class luxury sport utility to go up against the world's only other hybrid luxury SUV, the Lexus' RX400h.

At this year's Detroit show, hybrids were the hot technology topic with many car manufacturers displaying their R&D teams' finest efforts. General Motors led the way, debuting two concept cars, the GMC Graphyte and Opel Astra Diesel Hybrid, demonstrating the flexibility and advancements of its all-new Two-Mode Hybrid system, developed in collaboration with DaimlerChrysler.

The other half of that equation, DaimlerChrysler, chose to debut its hybrid powertrain in the M-Class,

Is the M-B hybrid system the same as that used by GM in its Graphyte and Opel hybrid concepts? (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

although M-B did not make any outright claims that their hybrid system is the same or even similar Two-Mode system shown earlier by GM. Nevertheless, it seems to share many of the same characteristics.

Benz's system, adapted to the 7G-Tronic automatic transmission, features two separate electric motors attached to the open end of the gearbox. The motors develop 34 horsepower each, but ponies aren't what matter when it comes to electric energy. More impressively, these little magnets can churn out 141 lb-ft and 221 lb-ft of torque respectively.