Back in March at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes said that it will have their first Mercedes-brand hybrid on the market by 2009. Well now, according to Auto Motor dun Sport, the car is in production phase and is expected to carry a Bluetec diesel engine with a fuel economy rating of 6.6 liters per 100 kilometers (62 miles).

Mercedes previously unveiled the Mercedes-Benz Direct Hybrid concept at the 2005 Frankfurt Auto Show which used a 3.0 liter V6 diesel engine, producing 300 horsepower. Unlike that concept, the production version will carry a 2.2 liter four-cylinder Bluetec diesel engine coupled with a mild-hybrid system, producing close to 204 horsepower.

The car should give Mercedes strong ground to compete with Lexus and its popular LS 600h hybrid premium sedan.

While no official name has been released, it is expected to be called the Mercedes-Benz Bluetec-Hybrid S-Class. The car will be shown at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September and is expected to hit dealerships in late 2008 or early 2009.

Source: Auto Motor dun Sport

[tags]Cars, Car, Auto, Automobile, Vehicles, Technology, Auto News, News, Mercedes, Hybrid[/tags]