Filed under: Diesel, Hybrid, Mercedes Benz, Frankfurt Motor Show
Frankfurt 2007: Mercedes-Benz S-Class Hybrids
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Last year, Mercedes-Benz announced that in addition to working with GM and BMW on the Two-Mode hybrid system, they would also collaborate with BMW on a less complex mild hybrid that could be adapted to most of their vehicles. The first product of that collaboration is being displayed this week at the Frankfurt Motor Show. A pair of S-Class sedans with the mild hybrid system are on display in S400 and S300 Bluetec guises.
The S400 hybrid uses the 3.5L gasoline V-6 and has a total combined output of 299 hp/ 375 Nm with the electric assist. As you might expect, the S300 Bluetec hybrid mates the 3.0L Bluetec diesel V-6 to the new mild hybrid set up to peaks out at 560 Nm of torque. The two luxury sedans reach 29.8 mpg and 43.6 mpg (both in US gallons) respectively. That latter number is particularly impressive considering the girth of the S-Class.
The hybrid system itself consists of an electric motor/generator/starter sandwiched between the flywheel and transmission. It can provide power boost, start/stop capability, and regenerative braking. Energy is stored in a small lithium-ion battery pack that is mounted under-hood. This would make the S-Class hybrids the first such production vehicles to use a lithium battery. The S400 is due on the market in 2009 with the S300 a year later.
[Source: Mercedes-Benz]
2009: S 400 HYBRID sets a new note in the luxury segment
At the same time as the ML 450 HYBRID, Mercedes-Benz will be launching an S‑Class with petrol hybrid on the market. In the S 400 HYBRID, which will also be available from mid-2009 in
The S 400 HYBRID can accelerate in 7.3 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and reach an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h. Yet even with such excellent performance, this superb combustion engine requires a mere 7.9 litres per 100 kilometres in the NEFZ cycle. This results in CO2 emissions of just 190 grams per kilometre, making the S 400 HYBRID the most fuel-efficient luxury petrol engine saloon in the world, independently of whether competitors pit a petrol- diesel- or hybrid drive against it. Only the S 300 BLUETEC HYBRID, the S 400 BLUETEC HYBRID and the F 700, also presented at the IAA by Mercedes-Benz, can improve significantly on the world record set by the S 400 HYBRID in terms of low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Enjoyable and economical driving from one efficient unit
The compact hybrid module installed in all the S-Class hybrids comprises a disk-shaped electric engine, which also functions as a starter motor and dynamo. This system offers a double benefit, working on the one hand in various ways to save fuel, and making driving so much more fun.
The main reason for the increased driving enjoyment is what is known as the boost effect, whereby the electric engine supports the combustion engine during the high-consumption acceleration phase with a maximum extra torque of 160
The hybrid module also features a comfortable start-stop function which switches the engine off whenever the vehicle stops, for example at traffic lights. Once the vehicle is ready to move off again, the electric engine starts the main engine again so gently, that it remains virtually unnoticed. This of course also contributes to fuel savings and is kind to the environment: since the engine starts virtually immediately, virtually no unburned fuel is discharged when starting off. When decelerating, on the other hand, the electric engine functions as a generator, and can recover braking energy in what is known as the recuperation process. This energy is stored in a powerful but compact lithium-ion battery pack in the engine compartment, ready for use when required. The engine management of this complex system is governed by a powerful control unit, which is also installed close to the engine.
2010: S 300 BLUETEC HYBRID with 560 Nm and just 5.4 l/100 km
The tremendous savings potential of the modular technology concept being applied by Mercedes-Benz is underlined by the S 300 BLUETEC HYBRID, due to arrive on the market in 2010, too. The configuration and performance data of this engine are identical to those in the E 300 BLUETEC HYBRID. In the S-Class too, the BLUETEC/Hybrid combination develops a maximum torque of 560
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Joseph 7:31PM (9/11/2007)
"This would make the S-Class hybrids the first such production vehicles to use a lithium battery."
The first production car to have a lithium-based battery will be the Tesla Roadster, due in just a couple months.
Unless you mean by "such" that it's the first sedan to have a ltihium-based battery. Although there is a small chance Tesla Motors might beat it by that time frame also.
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Chris M 12:35AM (9/12/2007)
They plan to put the LiIon battery pack in the engine compartment? Where it gets really hot? Something tells me that's not a good idea.
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why not the LS2LS7? 11:56AM (9/12/2007)
These sound perilously close to the kind of hybrid vehicles Honda (with the Accord) and Toyota (with the GS450h and LS600h) currently are offering and aren't selling very well.
The S320 CDI makes 35mpg, hybridizing it picks up under 25% more fuel efficiency. This level of improvement has not shown itself so far to be a big selling point.
But maybe times are changing.
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Sam Abuelsamid 12:19PM (9/12/2007)
While the mild hybrid system on the S-Class may not help increase sales a lot, it will help Mercedes meet the new EU CO2 emissions standards without giving up too much performance. Mercedes and BMW are unlikely to sell this as a performance enhancement but rather as a CO2 reducer.
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eddy 5:17PM (1/11/2008)
Well mercedes uses a new lithium-ion-battery by a german stratup with a new kind of ceramic membrane in it which makes the batterys extremly heat-resistant.
P.S.: The S200 Blutec Hybrid consumes just 5.2 l of Diesel. A Prius consumes 5.6 l of gasoline.
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