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Mercedes S400 BlueHybrid (2008): first official pictures

By Ben Whitworth

First Official Pictures

18 September 2008 17:00

Anything else?

The car’s 3.5-litre V6 has also been heavily modified for this application. It’s fitted with a new cylinder head, reworked pistons and it breathes through a new variable valve control set-up where the intake valve is kept open slightly longer between the intake and compression phases to boost thermal efficiency and reduce untreated emissions. And because the battery pack and electric components are fully integrated, cabin and boot space are unchanged.

The result is a 1955kg limousine with a combined petrol-electric output of 299bhp and 283lb ft – enough to hit 60mph in 7.2 seconds, top out at 155mph, cover 700 miles between refills and emit just 190g/km – a CO2 rating better than a Mercedes C230.

And Mercedes claims the green S400 is particularly frisky through the gears because the torque developed by the electric engine kicks in instantly, irrespective of engine revs. But then you can say the same about any electric car.

I’m impressed…

The figures are indeed impressive – for a petrol engine. But it only takes a cursory glance at the specifics for the S320 CDI (34mpg, 7.5 seconds, 155mph) to see that the regular S-Class diesel can pretty much match the S400 BlueHybrid.

Where the S400 does win hands-down though is its paltry 190g/km CO2 rating – significantly lower than the diesel’s 220g/km. There’s no word on pricing, but expect the BlueHybrid to sit between the S350 and S500 – which means about £65,000 in today’s money.

Mercedes UK is pushing hard for right-hand drive versions of the S400 BlueHybrid, but given the engineering costs of conversion it looks like it will be 2010 before the big hybrid arrives here in right-hand drive – well after the facelifted S-class arrives in mid-2009.

Would you take an S400 BlueHybrid over a diesel S-class or an Lexus LS600h? Click 'Add your comment' below and have your say