Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid Auto Show Pics
01-31-10, 12:55 AM
#1
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Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid Auto Show Pics
Pics from the auto show. Had to get the person to unlock the car for me.
HYBRID trunk badging is the only clue.
Hybrid battery housed under the hood
it only weighs 25kg!
Trunk is unaffected because there's no battery pack here
HYBRID trunk badging is the only clue.
Hybrid battery housed under the hood
it only weighs 25kg!
Trunk is unaffected because there's no battery pack here
01-31-10, 07:59 AM
#2
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I would drive this. Too bad it doesnt have the DI 3.5L that Mercedes sells now in Europe. That would give it a really superb balance of acceleration and economy. Cylinder deactivation would also be a good means for making the mild hybrid more worthwhile. Worked for the Accord hybrid anyway.
01-31-10, 08:59 AM
#3
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I would drive this. Too bad it doesnt have the DI 3.5L that Mercedes sells now in Europe. That would give it a really superb balance of acceleration and economy. Cylinder deactivation would also be a good means for making the mild hybrid more worthwhile. Worked for the Accord hybrid anyway.
AFAIK only a few engines have it as of the moment (i.e. the Honda J series V6 engine with VCM, HEMI V8 and the Bentley 6.3 liter V8 engine)
01-31-10, 11:47 AM
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01-31-10, 01:57 PM
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01-31-10, 01:58 PM
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The S400 looks nice, and is an interesting application of the mild-hybrid technology. However, let's be clear here, it's not the chart-topping S-Class in the way that the LS 600h L is for the LS-Line. The S400 is the most affordable model in the S-Class lineup, and gets about 80 hp less. I do think that this is a more sales volume approach because it combines the more affordable base price and fuel economy concerns (and evidently avoids the gas guzzler tax which the S550 gets hit with). Later MB models will come with a more sophisticated full-hybrid system.
One interesting side note is that according to the EPA's ratings, the S400 has a combined 21 mpg rating, which is the same as the LS 600h L's 21 mpg combined rating; however the city/highway difference is significant, S400 at 19/26 and LS 600h L at 20/22; the LSh also weighs about 1K lbs more and has about 150 more hp. Both the S400 and LS 600h L have an EPA greenhouse gas emission rating of 8.7 tons per year.
One interesting side note is that according to the EPA's ratings, the S400 has a combined 21 mpg rating, which is the same as the LS 600h L's 21 mpg combined rating; however the city/highway difference is significant, S400 at 19/26 and LS 600h L at 20/22; the LSh also weighs about 1K lbs more and has about 150 more hp. Both the S400 and LS 600h L have an EPA greenhouse gas emission rating of 8.7 tons per year.
01-31-10, 02:00 PM
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The S400 looks nice, and is an interesting application of the mild-hybrid technology. However, let's be clear here, it's not the chart-topping S-Class in the way that the LS 600h L is for the LS-Line. The S400 is the most affordable model in the S-Class lineup, and gets about 80 hp less. I do think that this is a more sales volume approach because it combines the more affordable base price and fuel economy concerns (and evidently avoids the gas guzzler tax which the S550 gets hit with).
One interesting side note is that according to the EPA's ratings, the S400 has a combined 21 mpg rating, which is the same as the LS 600h L's 21 mpg combined rating; however the city/highway difference is significant, S400 at 19/26 and LS 600h L at 20/22; the LSh also weights about 1K lbs more and has about 150 more hp. Both the S400 and LS 600h L have an EPA greenhouse gas emission rating of 8.7 tons per year.
One interesting side note is that according to the EPA's ratings, the S400 has a combined 21 mpg rating, which is the same as the LS 600h L's 21 mpg combined rating; however the city/highway difference is significant, S400 at 19/26 and LS 600h L at 20/22; the LSh also weights about 1K lbs more and has about 150 more hp. Both the S400 and LS 600h L have an EPA greenhouse gas emission rating of 8.7 tons per year.
01-31-10, 02:08 PM
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The S400 looks nice, and is an interesting application of the mild-hybrid technology. However, let's be clear here, it's not the chart-topping S-Class in the way that the LS 600h L is for the LS-Line. The S400 is the most affordable model in the S-Class lineup, and gets about 80 hp less. I do think that this is a more sales volume approach because it combines the more affordable base price and fuel economy concerns (and evidently avoids the gas guzzler tax which the S550 gets hit with). Later MB models will come with a more sophisticated full-hybrid system.
One interesting side note is that according to the EPA's ratings, the S400 has a combined 21 mpg rating, which is the same as the LS 600h L's 21 mpg combined rating; however the city/highway difference is significant, S400 at 19/26 and LS 600h L at 20/22; the LSh also weighs about 1K lbs more and has about 150 more hp. Both the S400 and LS 600h L have an EPA greenhouse gas emission rating of 8.7 tons per year.
One interesting side note is that according to the EPA's ratings, the S400 has a combined 21 mpg rating, which is the same as the LS 600h L's 21 mpg combined rating; however the city/highway difference is significant, S400 at 19/26 and LS 600h L at 20/22; the LSh also weighs about 1K lbs more and has about 150 more hp. Both the S400 and LS 600h L have an EPA greenhouse gas emission rating of 8.7 tons per year.
All said well, but hybrid or no hybrid, the S-Class is still a better overall car than the LS...even with the efforts by BMW and Audi with their recent redesigns, the S-Class still remains king of flagships.
01-31-10, 02:10 PM
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01-31-10, 02:23 PM
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I am sure the next LS Hybrid will tone it down a level to better compete with the S-Class Hybrid more head on. Especially on pricing.
