Currently reading: Frankfurt motor show: 88.3mpg S-class
Plug-in hybrid shows the future of Mercedes' executive saloons

Mercedes has launched a plug-in hybrid version of the S500 at the Frankfurt motor show.

The Mercedes Vision S500 plug-in hybrid concept is powered by a V6 petrol engine connected to a 10kwh lithium-ion battery pack and 44kw hybrid module. This allows the S500 to run for 18.6 miles on electric power alone, before the direct-injection engine takes over.

See the Mercedes Vision S500 plug-in hybrid concept picture gallery

It has CO2 emissions of 74g/km and fuel consumption is claimed to be 88.3mpg.

Dieter Zetsche, head of Mercedes cars, said: “The S500 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.”

Mercedes has said an S500 plug-in hybrid is some way off production, but it shows the direction it wants to go with its future executive saloons.

Frankfurt motor show 2009: full preview

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AwakeSpectator 10 September 2009

Re: Mercedes S-class with 88.3mpg

At the time Chemistry was part of the cirruculum which I was required to study, I neither used to like it nor used to find it easy, which unfortunately does not allow me to comment on the scarcity of oil with freedom. Having said that, I would like to believe that oil somehow happens to be an organic compound which happen to be regenerative by their very nature. Considering that, and the extra components which are needed for efficient batteries, humans were previously mining for oil and the usual metals – iron, aluminum - in large quantities; now include lithium and the associated cousins into that list and consider the machinery which is used to mine these materials, which does not sip fuel, rather drinks it like a person who has been thirsty for a couple of days.

Based on all this, I really do not know what to make of all this. Whether to appreciate an effort to curb emissions, or to just criticize an effort to be politically correct and most probably nothing else.

Topkat 10 September 2009

Re: Mercedes S-class with 88.3mpg

Wow 88.3mpg for a big strong heavy car is great! :D