Frankfurt Preview: Mercedes-Benz ML450 Two-Mode Hybrid

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Following on the heels of General Motors and Chrysler earlier this year, Mercedes-Benz will be showing their first Two-Mode hybrid application next week in Frankfurt. Like its partners, Mercedes will be putting the system into an SUV, in this case the ML450. The combined output of the ML will be 340 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. Combined fuel efficiency should be 30.5 mpg (US).

They haven't specified which gas engine will be used although the output seems to imply a V-6 of about 3.5L. If that's the case they will be following the Lexus nomenclature practice of numbering their hybrids with the equivalent gas engine output (450 being comparable to a 4.5L V-8). The ML450 is scheduled to go on sale in 2009.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]