Bühl, Germany -- A Mercedes-Benz S-Class that burns as little fuel as a B200 may sound anachronistic. Yet, it's the new creed of the Stuttgart-based automaker. "We're going to show that high fuel economy and low emissions are not merely exclusive to small cars," declared Ulrich Mellinghoff, Vice President of Development, Safety, NVH and Experimentation at Mercedes-Benz Cars, while introducing the media to the all-new 2010 S-Class hybrid sedan, the first automobile of its kind in the Mercedes-Benz family.
Here we are, on the eve of another decade, and the star of the S-Class lineup isn't powered by a mighty V12. Rather, the engine under the hood has only six cylinders and there's a greenish aura floating around the car.
Say hello to a new, Atkinson-cycle V6 mated to an electric motor. Fitted to the long-wheelbase S-Class, this hybrid powertrain reportedly consumes 8.1 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers on average and produces about 190 grams of carbon dioxide (CO2) per kilometer. Take that, Lexus! After all, the best your V8-powered LS 600hL hybrid can do is 9.9 L/100 km and 219 grams of CO2/km.
A "mild" hybrid
Called S400 Hybrid, this premium full-size sedan uses a compact hybrid system, a high-capacity lithium-ion battery, an automatic start-stop technology as well as a regenerative braking system.
Similar to the new Honda Insight's powertrain, the engine of the S400 Hybrid shuts down at low speeds (under 15 km/h) and restarts as soon as you depress the throttle. This hybrid can't, however, run solely on electric power during accelerations or at cruising speeds, unlike the Toyota Prius or Ford Fusion, for example.
The 3.5-liter V6 of this S-Class generates 279 horsepower. The electric motor adds an extra 20, not to mention 118 pounds-feet of torque upon takeoff. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a seven-speed 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission that's been specially calibrated for this hybrid powertrain.
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| Mercedes' flagship sedan displays fresh new lines for 2010. However, it's the new hybrid model that catches the attention. |
Here we are, on the eve of another decade, and the star of the S-Class lineup isn't powered by a mighty V12. Rather, the engine under the hood has only six cylinders and there's a greenish aura floating around the car.
Say hello to a new, Atkinson-cycle V6 mated to an electric motor. Fitted to the long-wheelbase S-Class, this hybrid powertrain reportedly consumes 8.1 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers on average and produces about 190 grams of carbon dioxide (CO2) per kilometer. Take that, Lexus! After all, the best your V8-powered LS 600hL hybrid can do is 9.9 L/100 km and 219 grams of CO2/km.
A "mild" hybrid
Called S400 Hybrid, this premium full-size sedan uses a compact hybrid system, a high-capacity lithium-ion battery, an automatic start-stop technology as well as a regenerative braking system.
Similar to the new Honda Insight's powertrain, the engine of the S400 Hybrid shuts down at low speeds (under 15 km/h) and restarts as soon as you depress the throttle. This hybrid can't, however, run solely on electric power during accelerations or at cruising speeds, unlike the Toyota Prius or Ford Fusion, for example.
The 3.5-liter V6 of this S-Class generates 279 horsepower. The electric motor adds an extra 20, not to mention 118 pounds-feet of torque upon takeoff. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a seven-speed 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission that's been specially calibrated for this hybrid powertrain.
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| Power is stored in a lithium-ion battery (right) that's much smaller than conventional nickel-metal units. |