Mercedes S400 well on its way to take on Lexus LS hybrid

Posted: Feb 06, 2008
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Mercedes S400 well on its way to take on Lexus LS hybrid

The folks over at AutoCar have recently spotted the S400 Hybrid testing in Germany, showing that development is well on schedule for a 2009 market launch. This will make Mercedes the first auto maker to bring a hybrid car that uses lithium ion batteries to the roads, putting it a well ahead of Toyota and GM who plan to have a their lithium-ion powered cars on the market in late 2010.

The Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid’s 279 horsepower V6 engine will be mated with a 20 horsepower electric engine that will allow for an average fuel-economy of 27mpg. That puts the S400 hybrid well ahead of the Lexus LS hybrid which gives an estimated fuel-economy of 20mpg in the city and 22 on the highway.

However, performance wise the S400 will take 7.3 seconds to go from 0-60, while the Lexus LS takes 5.5. But let’s not forget that when shopping in this segment, performance figures are not a buyer’s first priority.

The Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid will also feature other fuel-saving technologies such as an automatic star-stop system, similar to the BMW Efficient Dynamics program.

You can expect to see the S400 on the market in mid-2009. The Mercedes ML450 hybrid will arrive first in early 2009.

 

Source: AutoCar

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


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  • A

    “But let’s not forget that when shopping in this segment, performance figures are not a buyer’s first priority.”

    Yeah, but neither is gas mileage. Way to skew the perspective. Objective observation much?

  • DrFill

    Yeah, let’s calm the frig down.
    If this car is going to be the base S-Class, I don’t see how you compare this to the LS600.
    They will have very difference markets, and performance.
    It’s easy to get high economy, if you take out power.
    Let me know when to get impressed.
    This is not a LS600 competitor.
    DrFill

  • Bill Bugbee

    You’ve got to be kidding…”S400 hybrid well ahead of the Lexus LS hybrid”. Toyota’s hybrid synergy drive technology is still 3-5 model years ahead of anything the Germans or Detroit can deliver – they’re all still chasing the Japanese.

    Nice first try, but the S400 Mercedes is equipped with only a 20 horsepower electric engine – why bother. The Lexus / Toyota hybrid models come with a range performance enhancing electric drive systems that range from 50HP to 67HP (model dependent).

    The article also fails to clarify if Mercedes employs a dual power hybrid system design or a just the so-called “light-hybrid” configuration (the electric motor and gas engine do not operate fully independent of each other). Toyota’s dual-mode power system design optimizes efficiency of the electroic drive and produces the lowest emissions – enabling pure EV performance at lower speeds. But, kudos to MB for the lithium-ion battery pack — it’s a start for the Germans, but the must first dump their obsession with dirty diesels and drivetrain technology of the last century in order to address the challenges of today’s marketplace. They can also learn a thing or two from Fisker and Tesla start-up companies.

  • Sir Crack Head Alley

    I am going to sleep. Wake me up in 2013 after Hillary leaves, when Ford comes up with their XJ-H-ybrid Jag with a 6 HP Lucas DC dynamo engine attached to the front left tire claiming it is ahead of Japanese hybrid technology.

    Can’t wait to see the reliability (?) of these Mercs. Can you read extended warranty with loaner car included at lease signup?