Mercedes-Benz contemplates S 500 for Australia

A plug-in hybrid is set to be the technology leader for Mercedes-Benz's S-Class range in Australia. Indeed, there's a better-than-even chance we'll see the highly fuel-efficient S 500 Hybrid on sale locally within a year of its launch in other major markets around the world, according to David McCarthy, Senior Manager for Corporate Communications at Mercedes-Benz Australia.

"There are two conditions that would need to be fulfilled for us to take it. The most obvious one is right-hand drive. They've said that it's going to be available world-wide..." he told motoring.com.au at the global launch of the new W222 S-Class in Canada on Friday.

"And the other issue is the cord and the plug; not the plug into the car, but the plug into the wall. We came across an issue when we were looking at getting some electric smarts.

"The issue was [if] I can describe it like this: you've got 110 Volts, 240 Volts – and variations in between. The electric [vehicle], in the software for the charge and stuff has to be able to handle that, or can be programmed for that – and meets the local standard for the cabling and stuff.

"So assuming [the S 500] has that, yes, we would look at taking it."

While the car on display in Canada – its first official public reveal is at the Frankfurt motor show in September – looked ready to be shipped straight to the showroom, it is a concept, properly speaking. McCarthy insinuates that the car is being fast-tracked for production, despite its current one-off status.

"It's a 'concept', but it's obviously developed a lot further than that. I would suspect the earliest [would be] probably first quarter for some markets. Probably markets, such as Western Europe and the US will get it first.

"If it's really just a matter of putting that stuff in it [and] it's easily adaptable to left or right-hand drive, which it would be... same as the S 300 hybrid, where the battery pack's under the bonnet.

"I would hope that 2014 – probably second or third quarter – it would be available to us."

Benz has disclosed little about the S 500, other than its 75g/km CO2 emissions figure and a fuel consumption rate of around 3.0L/100km. While it's not specifically on the agenda for Australia, it's a much stronger prospect to join the range than the S 400 Hybrid, says McCarthy.

"We're not taking the S 400 Hybrid," he stated, acknowledging that the petrol-engined hybrid was developed exclusively for North America.

Buyers there are beginning to opt for diesel-engined vehicles in some sectors of the market, but large luxury sedans are not among those.

"In SUV we're seeing a big uptick in diesel, and in some of the medium and compact cars. We're not seeing the same uptick in larger cars. They [Americans] haven't yet adapted, and I think one of the issues is perception."

In Australia, by contrast, buyers are more open-minded about diesel power for the S-Class.

"We're now seeing that 350 BlueTEC – in S-Class – is actually picking up its volume considerably," McCarthy observed.

A more frugal S-Class – the diesel/electric S 300 BlueTEC Hybrid – is highly likely to join the local range from next year but the S 500 plug-in would take fuel efficiency into a new realm.

Both the S 300 and the S 500 fuel-sippers are aimed at a new type of buyer, says McCarthy, one who is not afraid of fuel bills as much as earning the scorn of his or her children, friends, colleagues and peers.

"Is fuel consumption an issue for their pocket? Not necessarily. There's been some anecdotal feedback from customers that their kids are saying: 'It's great, you're buying something that's good for the environment'," he said.

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