Marton Pettendy•16 Sept 2014
NEWS
Mercedes-Benz plugs in
First of 10 plug-in hybrid models by 2017 to land Down Under in about 12 monthsMercedes-Benz has committed to bringing 10 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) to market by 2017, and the first of them to arrive in Australia will be the S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID limousine late next year.
Pricing will be in line with the 4.7-litre twin-turbo petrol V8-powered S 500 with which it shares its name, meaning around $285,000.
The historic German brand released its first electrified model in Australia last July in the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID and has since launched similar versions of its new S-Class and C-Class.
But while those models combine a 2.1-litre four-cylinder diesel engine and electric motor to consume as little as 3.8L/100km (in the C-Class), the PHEV models go one step ahead by offering plug-in capability to further reduce their claimed consumption figures and offer an emissions-free pure-electric mode.
Beyond the S 500 PHEV launched internationally in Germany this week, Mercedes has also announced it will reveal a PHEV version of the new C-Class at the Paris motor show in October.
The first plug-in C-Class will also come to Australia, in 2016, priced around $100,000 – making the C 350 PLUG-IN HYBRID up to $30,000 more expensive than the C 300 BlueTEC HYBRID ($71,900 plus ORCs).
Mercedes-Benz A/P spokesman David McCarthy told motoring.com.au that, as with the C 300 and S 300 hybrids, the S 500 PHEV's price premium would essentially only cover their extra technology.
"The reason for plug-in hybrid technology is to meet European fleet-average fuel consumption legislation," he said.
"We absolutely want to demonstrate the technology in Australia and will price it as keenly as we can. [But] It is expensive technology."
The S 500 PHEV combines a 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 with an electric motor to produce total system outputs of 325kW and 650Nm – enough to accelerate it to 100km/h in 5.2 seconds and consume as little as 2.8L/100km and emitting only 65g/km of CO2.
That means it has almost as much performance and pace as the standard S 500 (335kW/750Nm; 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds), but is more than three times as efficient as the V8 model (9.2L/100km).
The C 350 PHEV goes even further, its 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four and electric motor combination reducing average consumption to about 2.0L/100km and emissions to less than 50g/km, while offering an all-electric driving range of at least 30km.
Mercedes' ambitious PHEV rollout was announced this week by Daimler R&D chief Dr Thomas Weber.
"During the next years we will offer plug-in hybrids in all of our volume segments," Weber said.
"By 2017, we will launch up to 10 new models with plug-in hybrid powertrains. This covers not only our core ranges – the C-, E- and S-Class – but also a number of SUV models.
"We will bring a new plug-in hybrid to market every four months … the S-Class forms the spearhead of a true plug-in hybrid offensive of Mercedes."
No models beyond the C-Class and S-Class PHEVs have been confirmed, but the German car-maker's next plug-in models are likely to be the E-Class and GLK-replacing GLE, both due on sale next year.
Dr Weber said Daimler's modular PHEV system could be applied to all models from the C-Class upwards, in combination with both four- and six-cylinder engines and both rear- and all-wheel drive.
Later, Mercedes says it will also develop a PHEV powertrain for its smaller, front-wheel drive A-, B- and GLA-Class models.
Mercedes-Benz PHEVs will also come with the option of inductive wireless charging, following a joint-venture technology project with BMW, in which Benz will soon commence testing wireless charging of the S 500 PHEV.
BMW Australia has released a limited number of petrol-electric hybrid-powered 3, 5 and 7 Series models, and will soon release its first plug-in models in the i3 and i8.
Audi Australia's first electrified model will be the plug-in A3 Sportback e-tron due early next year, followed by the next-generation Q7 e-tron.
Tags
Mercedes-Benz
Car News
Green Cars
Written byMarton Pettendy
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