Following the launch of the S500 Plug-in Hybrid in Europe, Mercedes-Benz is now releasing the S550 version in the American market, giving executive customers who need to put on a green face a new uncompromising alternative to ordinary hybrids.

Mercedes S550 Plug-In Hybrid luxury sedan boasts a system output of 436 hp and 479 lb-ft torque, coming from a V6 petrol engine working in tandem with an electric motor. The car accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in just 5.2 seconds and can drive up to 20 miles purely electrically. Top speed is limited to 130mph, which is good enough for a car that returns 2.8 liter/100 km (official EPA mpg ratings are yet to be announced).

The S550 Hybrid is a pure Mercedes which means it comes with all the bells and whistles you would expect from a luxury Benz. It also gets some new features bespoke to the hybrid versions, such as a charging socket, intelligent operating strategy to guide the driver in eco driving, and a neat new feature called haptic accelerator pedal that can signal via a double impulse when drivers should take their foot off the accelerator for sailing and recuperating.

The standard kit on Mercedes S550 Plug-In Hybrid also includes LED High Performance headlamps and LED tail lights, leather upholstery, COMAND Online, touchpad, dual-zone Automatic climate control, Memory package for driver and front passenger, ambient lighting in seven colors and the air suspension AIRMATIC with continuously variable damping system. The basic safety equipment includes PRE-SAFE, COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS (collision warning including Adaptive Brake Assist), ATTENTION ASSIST, PRE-SAFE® impulse, and Crosswind Assist.