Autoblog

Review: 2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid, who is it for?

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Mercedes-Benz, New Car Reviews, Luxury

2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

When pondering the idea of any near-$100,000 hybrid luxury sedan, one has to wonder, "What's the point?" The only hybrids that sell in any significant numbers are the Toyota Prius and Ford Fusion, and for good reason. Both allow drivers - and particularly hyper-milers - to squeeze every last mile out of each gallon of fuel.

Obviously, anyone with the financial wherewithal to purchase a 2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid is unlikely to be motivated by the technology's fuel savings. Similarly, if someone wants to make a social statement by driving a "green" vehicle, they will likely want their ride to be instantly recognizable as a hybrid.

So the cost-no-object camp is divided. They can either drop their coin on an all-electric Tesla Roadster or, in spite of their bank balance, go with a lowly Toyota. Which begs the question: Is there something in between? We tested Mercedes' newest hybrid to find out.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid

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Review: 2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid, who is it for? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EXCLUSIVE: Next-gen S-Class to go all-hybrid in U.S., save AMG variants

Chris Paukert — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:32:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Technology, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to an Autoblog source close to the project, Mercedes-Benz will go all-hybrid with its next-generation S-Class lineup in America - with the exception of enthusiast-oriented AMG models. The plutocrat cruiser is expected to roll up in 2012, and it is understood that gas-only S-Class models will be the exclusive preserve of the company's performance arm - the German automaker is not talking about offering both regular and hybrid variants of the same model, at least in the States.

Presently, Daimler only offers a single gasoline-electric variant of its W221 S-Class - the S400 hybrid (the range's price leader at $87,950), and it incorporates a 3.5-liter V6 with a mild hybrid assist system for 295 horsepower and 26 miles-per-gallon on the freeway. Other models in current S-Class lineup all have more cylinders and power, including the 382-hp 5.5-liter V8 of the S550 and the twin-turbo 5.5-liter V12 of the S600. It is not immediately clear if company engineers plan to downsize the internal-combustion side of the next S' powertrain equation as a result of the all gas-electric strategy. While we expect Mercedes will offer a range of CDI diesel models in European market, no such model is apparently planned for the States at this time.

While the Daimler board has yet to sign-off on this plan, it appears to be all but certain. Interestingly, our contact indicates that S400 sales are going swimmingly in the States - particularly among Hollywood's green-minded glitterati, a contingent that our source maintains is abandoning their Priuses at a furious rate now that the model has become "something of a pariah" due to Toyota's recent troubles.

Gallery: 2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid

EXCLUSIVE: Next-gen S-Class to go all-hybrid in U.S., save AMG variants originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class shows off cool tech

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 07:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Mercedes-Benz

2010 Mercedes S Class - Click above to view the video after the jump

Mercedes has a new promotional video for the 2010 S Class that offers peeks at the model range and suite of tech coming on the latest luxury sedan: the S400 Hybrid and its energy monitoring system, S500 (the S550 in the U.S.), S600, Splitview COMAND screen, new headlamps, and LEDs everywhere. Follow the jump to watch the vid and see what Mercedes has in store.

Continue reading VIDEO: 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class shows off cool tech

VIDEO: 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class shows off cool tech originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHYBRID unveiled

John Neff — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Mercedes-Benz

Click above to view high-res gallery of the Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHYBRID

Mercedes-Benz has taken the wraps off of its first hybrid passenger car, the S400 BlueHYBRID. Based on the S350, this mild hybrid pairs an electric motor/generator and the first lithium-ion battery in a production car with a specially tuned version of the company's 3.5L V6 driving the wheels through a 7-speed automatic transmission. The V6 produces 279 horsepower and can be aided by the electric motor during acceleration with an additional 20 horsepower and 88 lb-ft of torque, giving the drivetrain a combined torque output of 285 lb-ft and what MB calls an electric "boost" effect. Like most hybrids, the S400 features a start-stop function and regenerative braking, but since Mercedes didn't want any interior or trunk space sacrificed for batteries, the S400's special li-ion battery was made small enough to be placed under the hood with the engine. The only evidence you're driving a hybrid while behind the wheel is a special display embedded in the gauge cluster that shows where the energy is flowing at any particular moment. The net result of all this technology is a very large car that sips fuel at the rate of 7.9 liters per 100 kilometers, or what would be around 29 mpg in the U.S. The M-B S400 BlueHYBRID will be available in Europe next summer, and we expect to see it offered elsewhere, including the U.S., not long after.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHYBRID

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHYBRID unveiled

Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHYBRID unveiled originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2007: Mercedes S400 Bluetec Hybrid - it's new, we think

Noah Joseph — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 08:33:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Green, Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz is confusing the blog out of us with its nomenclature. Sure, it's usually pretty straightforward: one letter for the class, three numbers for the (approximate) engine displacement. Tack on 4Matic for all-wheel-drive, chop off a zero and add AMG for the performance models. But they just about lost us on this one.

In Frankfurt Mercedes unveiled two new hybrid versions of the S-Class: the S300 Bluetec Hybrid with diesel-electric power, and the S400 Hybrid with gas-electric power. In Los Angeles, however, they took the wraps off the S400 Bluetec Hybrid. Still with us? Well, they lost us, too. This version packs a V6 diesel coupled with an electric motor to provide 265 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, resulting in what Mercedes calls V8 performance with four-cylinder economy: 0-60 in 7.2 seconds and 40.5 mpg on the highway.

While the previous S400 Hybrid unveiled in Frankfurt was gas-electric, the S300 Bluetec Hybrid unveiled with it was stated as producing 413 lb-ft of torque to this S400 Bluetec Hybrid's stated 465. Still, the press materials didn't specifically differentiate it from its Frankfurt-revealed stablemate, and nobody at the Mercedes booth here in LA could tell us if this was actually a different model. Think you can make sense of it? The press release is after the jump.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Gallery: LA 2007: Mercedes S400 Bluetec Hybrid

Continue reading LA 2007: Mercedes S400 Bluetec Hybrid - it's new, we think

LA 2007: Mercedes S400 Bluetec Hybrid - it's new, we think originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Nov 2007 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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