Earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz introduced us to its BlueEFFICIENCY line of vehicles, starting off with the C-Class saloons (sedans). At the time, the German automaker promised that the fuel-saving technology would make its way up the corporate ladder, and it has now reached the top rung, the S-Class. MB's new new S 320 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY manages a 10-percent improvement in fuel economy and emissions over the last CDI-powered S-Class model by way of "on-demand power steering," a 7 speed automatic transmission with "standstill decoupling" and low rolling resistance tires. You want numbers? For such a large car, the saloon manages nearly 31 miles per U.S. gallon (7.6 litres per 100km) and 199 g/km of carbon emissions. Still, zero to sixty acceleration is under 8 seconds, plenty fast for modern driving needs. On sale soon in Europe at €70,864.50, just shy of a hundred-grand in U.S. dollars, though conversions don't work like that. Full press release after the break.


[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Mercedes-Benz has officially confirmed the launch of its first hybrid vehicle and provided plenty of details on the drive system. The S400 BlueHybrid will will go on sale next summer in Europe with a U.S. launch expected soon after. The S400 will be the first product of a collaboration between Daimler and BMW to develop a mild hybrid drive system. Unlike the Two-Mode hybrid system that Mercedes is putting into the ML450 hybrid, the mild system uses a conventional 7-speed Mercedes automatic transmission. The torque converter is replaced by a 20 hp disc-shaped electric motor/generator. The motor replaces the torque converter, alternator and starter motor and provides regenerative braking capability as well electric power boost and auto start/stop capability.

The S400 will also be the first series production hybrid vehicle and first high-volume production vehicle of any type (hybrid or electric) to use a lithium ion battery for energy storage. The 120 V battery supplied by Continental is packaged under the hood so it doesn't take up any cargo room. The lithium battery will actually replace the conventional 12 V lead acid battery and with the use of a transformer it will be used to provide power to all the electrical accessories in the car. Because the alternator is eliminated and some of the charging power for the battery comes from regenerative braking, parasitic losses in the car are reduced. The bottom line is that the hybrid S-class should get the best fuel economy in the large luxury car class. It will be rated at a combined 29.8 mpg (U.S.) on the EU test cycle compared to 23.3 mpg (U.S.) for the conventional S350.


[Source: Mercedes-Benz]