Mercedes E Class is finally getting the hybrid treatment with the E300 BlueTEC HYBRID diesel and E400 HYBRID petrol.
The E300, available as sedan and estate versions, has a 4-cylinder diesel engine with 150 kW (204 hp) and 500 Nm, combined with an electric motor developing 20 kW and 250 Nm. So you get a fair amount of power, but with great fuel economy of just 4.2 liter/100km.
The E400 designed mainly for the American market – with Japan and China to follow – is powered by a 225 kW (306 hp) and 370 Nm V6 petrol engine and a 20 kW and 250 Nm electric motor. This one’s fuel economy is as follows: City 24 mpg, Highway 31 mpg, Combined 27 mpg.
Both these cars are of course an E-Class which means it is a proper executive saloon with lots of features, practicality, comfort and luxury. The extra cost of the hybrid models is easily justifiable, considering the money you save at the pumps. They also have remarkable tax advantages. And they look like a normal E-Class. Nobody will realize it’s hybrid, if you care about such things!
The new hybrid models will be celebrating their world premiere at the Detroit Motor Show.
Highlights of the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID at a glance:
* Compact, intelligent and modular hybrid concept: no changes to the body of the base vehicle are necessary
* Also available as an Estate
* Space, safety and comfort remain unchanged
* No compromises in terms of space, safety and comfort
* Significant increase in comfort with start/stop operation; noiseless start, complete climatic comfort
* Top marks for consumption in the luxury-class business vehicle segment: 4.2 litres/100 km, 109 g CO2/km
* Part of the intelligent downsizing strategy of Mercedes-Benz: increase in the engine output of the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID with 150 kW + 20 kW electric motor/500 Nm + 250 Nm, compared with the E 250 CDI (150 kW/500 Nm), positioning it at the same level as the E 300 CDI (170 kW/540 Nm)
* Fuel savings of around 15 percent compared with the E 250 CDI – even in actual road traffic conditions
* Impressive hybrid driving experience (start/stop function, regenerative braking, boost effect, purely electric motoring and “sailing” function)
Highlights of the E 400 HYBRID at a glance:
* Compact, intelligent and modular hybrid concept: no changes to the body of the base vehicle are necessary
* No compromises in terms of space, safety and comfort
* Significant increase in comfort with start/stop operation; noiseless start, complete climatic comfort
* Consumption combined (CAFE): 27 mpg
* Part of the intelligent downsizing strategy of Mercedes-Benz: increase in the engine output of the E 400 HYBRID by some 20 kW and 250 Nm thanks to the electric motor
* Impressive hybrid driving experience (start/stop function, regenerative braking, boost effect, purely electric motoring and “sailing” function)
