S-Class Fuel Economy: 33.3 km/L

Announced in Germany in Maythis yearNew S-ClassThe S 500 Plug-in Hybrid has been added as the third hybrid model to the new S-Class. Following the S 400 Hybrid and S 300 BlueTEC Hybrid, this is the model that was previewed at the new S-Class launch with a promised fuel economy of "under 4 liters/100 km (25 km/l)." As Mercedes' first production plug-in hybrid model,Frankfurt Motor Showit will make its debut at the show, with sales scheduled to begin in 2014.

The hybrid system adopted for the S 500 Plug-in Hybrid combines a new 3.0-liter V6 turbo engine producing 333 ps and 480 Nm (48.9 kgm) of torque with an externally chargeable battery and a motor generating 80 kW and 340 Nm of torque. Based on a strong hybrid system that allows for electric-only driving, it features an advanced regenerative braking system, intelligent energy management, and this second-generation hybrid system with external charging capability.

Mercedes-Benz's plug-in hybrid system offers approximately 30 km of pure electric driving. More impressively, it achieves a remarkable fuel economy of 33.3 km/l (NEDC value) – far exceeding the "under 4 liters/100 km (25 km/l)" target – a figure astonishing for an L-segment model. CO2 emissions are also kept to a mere 69 g/km. These figures are comparable to those of kei cars and compact hybrid vehicles, something previously unimaginable for a luxury saloon. To borrow from a Suzuki Alto commercial, it's not "Alto, 33," but "Benz, 33." This truly marks a new era in the fuel economy race. Everyone will surely feel that the competition has reached this point.





The S 500 Plug-in Hybrid features four hybrid operating modes. Specifically: (1) HYBRID: Driving with a combination of engine and motor; (2) E-MODE: Driving on electric power only; (3) E-SAVE: Preparing to drive on electric power only after the battery is fully charged; (4) CHARGE: Charging the battery while driving.—These modes can be easily selected with a single switch.

Mercedes-Benz launched the world's first hybrid model equipped with a lithium-ion battery,World's First Hybrid Modelin 2009. With over 20,000 units sold worldwide to date, it has laid the foundation for hybrids to be demanded in luxury vehicles. While the new S-Class's S 400 Hybrid achieves 15.8 km/l and the S 300 BlueTEC Hybrid achieves 22.7 km/l, the S 500 Plug-in Hybrid's 33.3 km/l is certainly attractive. However, what's more noteworthy is Mercedes-Benz's commitment to proposing diverse solutions and embracing energy diversity.

The prevailing opinion is that FCVs (Fuel Cell Vehicles) are the true next-generation cars, but their widespread adoption requires infrastructure development, such as hydrogen fuel supply. So, how will we bridge the gap to achieve sustainable mobility? While advancing FCV development, Mercedes-Benz is simultaneously improving the efficiency of existing technologies like gasoline and diesel. Furthermore, with hybrids offered in both gasoline and diesel variants, and including EVs, they are the only automaker in the world currently commercializing all practically viable technologies without reservation. One cannot help but feel a sense of pride as the inventor of the automobile.

The arrival of the S 500 Plug-in Hybrid will undoubtedly serve as a major catalyst in the race to reduce the environmental impact of luxury models. Perhaps the concept will shift from "luxury cars are forgiven for using more resources" to "luxury cars, precisely because they are luxury, utilize costly high-tech to minimize their environmental footprint."

Mercedes-Benz S 500 Plug-in Hybrid
Engine | 3.0-liter V6 Twin-Turbo
Engine Max. Output | 245 kW
Engine Max. Torque | 480 Nm
Motor Max. Output | 80 kW
Motor Max. Torque | 340 Nm
Top Speed | 250 km/h
0-100 km/h Acceleration | 5.5 seconds
Fuel Economy (NEDC) | 3.0 ℓ/100km
CO2 Emissions | 69 g/km