Mercedes-Benz S-Class range to go full-hybrid?

By Alborz Fallah | April 06th, 2010

Interesting news today from the United States suggests that Daimler (owners of Mercedes-Benz) are considering a controversial plan to make the next generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class range a hybrid-only lineup.

This would mean that all S-Class variants will come with hybrid drivetrains only, even the V8, V12 or AMG variants. The idea currently being considered by Stuttgart executives is drawing some criticism from some Mercedes-Benz dealers in the United States.

The dealers believe that hybrids are still not perceived as “true performers” and that S-class buyers don’t see fuel economy as a major factor in their purchase decision.

AutoNews reports that the switch to a full hybrid lineup might take place when the all new S-Class is released in 2013.

Environmental credentials aside, Mercedes-Benz is also looking at reducing its emissions across the range thanks to stricter European CO2 emissions standards on top of harsher corporate average fuel economy standards in the United States. All of which come into play by 2015.

Given that cars such as the BMW 7 Series and the S-Class are the show pieces of the automotive world, highlighting technologies of the future decades in advance, a complete switch to hybrid variants will set a big precedent for the industry.

Ernst Lieb, CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, told AutoNews USA that ”It isn’t how will we do it, yes or no. The question is: Do we need other variations?“.

Mercedes-Benz currently sells a mild hybrid variant as the S400. The next-generation S-Class hybrid variants will be full hybrid and make use of lithium ion batteries.

ABMPSV

It is already a good car not like the previous model. Who sad that rich people do not care about fuel economy and for the big luxury car is a very good idea.
Kieran

Pollution from the production of batteries for hybrid cars on its own is greater than the pollution produced from “woe to go” by a Yank Tank…

Why not put more money into better diesels?

ABMPSV

Diesel are already very good. In 2005 Mercedes did a recor run with the E320CDI. The three standard-production Mercedes-Benz E 320 CDI models completed the 30-day, 100,000-mile, marathon at an average speed of 139,699 mph (224,823 km/h) without suffering any problems. After this record Mercedes went without stopping to refuel each of the unmodified CDI models covered a distance of 1039 miles (1672 km), which corresponds to a fuel consumption of 4.75 litres per 100 kilometres.

Deco

Wow that’s extremely fast… 224,823 km/hr..

If only Nasa had that technology.

Baddass

Oh grow up. It’s a typo, and I’m sure you’ve made some too.
Kieran

Not a typo, just a different system. Outside the English-writing world, many European languages use a comma where we would use a decimal point, and a decimal point for thousand notation.
e.g. 1,234.56 = 1.234,56

Kieran

I entirely agree. My father’s BMW 320d is proof enough for me! I just can’t help thinking that there’s still a little more to be had from diesel power, though. My personal opinion is that hybrids are over-rated and a little too nerdy, and that not nearly enough people in Australia are willing to give diesel a go.
ABMPSV

Sorry when I copied from other website I should change the coma to point it is 224.823 km/h.

D

Does that mean that they’ll bring out diesel hybrids?

Deco

Everyone seems hell bent agaisnt not making them. Seems silly to me.
Matthew

Perhaps the DiesOtto will make it into production soon. This is an engine Mercedes-Benz have been developing over the past year or so which runs on unleaded petrol but uses the combustion concepts of a diesel and therefore has the torque and economy currently associated with diesels.

Such an engine would achieve economy which compares or exceeds hybrids without the need for heavy, expensive (environmentally and financially) batteries.

UMWAHT

hybrid AMG? isn’t that an oxymoron?

Country Grammar

You, sir, are the moron…

tekkyy

while the green credentials of motor/battery remains controversial for some, the superior NVM and response are rarely argued against

its a logical addition to luxury and sports cars

for one it’ll get rid of diesel noise at idle which made diesel better

Shak

I’ve read elsewhere that most MB dealers are completely against this idea, as they dont want a hybrid AMG. They say they wouldn’t be able to sell it. The whole point of the MB range is to have power, luxury and road presence. You dont have road presence if you S-Class sounds like a Prius.

ABMPSV

I think it must be because of this …….Lower penalty payments for small excess emissions until 2018: If the average CO2 emissions of a manufacturer’s fleet exceed its limit value in any year from 2012, the manufacturer has to pay an excess emissions premium for each car registered. This premium amounts to €5 for the first g/km of exceedance, €15 for the second g/km, €25 for the third g/km, and €95 for each subsequent g/km. From 2019, already the first g/km of exceedance will cost €95.