Mercedes E-Class hybrid is Stuttgart’s answer to Bavaria’s BMW 5-Series Activhybrid.

At 2012 Detroit Motor Show Mercedes is introducing a whole new role for the good old E-class by revealing the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID and the E 400 HYBRID variants. These cars are designed to offer the maxium efficiency possible, without any major compromise on performance or comfort.

The E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID is initially planned to be launched on the European market, while the E 400 HYBRID will be made available on the American market first, followed by other countries such as Japan and China later.

The E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID, available as a Saloon and Estate, is powered by a 4-cylinder diesel engine developing 204 hp and 500 Nm, coupled to an electric motor producing 250 Nm and 20 kW of power. The means top speed of 242 km/h, acceleration from 0 to 62  mph in 7.5 seconds, consumption of 67.2 mpg, CO₂ emissions of 109 g/km. These figures will be a bit different for the estate model.

The E 400 is the more luxurious of the two, powered by a 306 hp and 370 Nm V6, further boosted by the same 250Nm electric motor. So you have a very powerful and fun to drive executive saloon, with great fuel economy of city 24 mpg, highway 31 mpg, ccombined 27 mpg.

The hybrid drive unit is an enhancement of the module used in the S 400 HYBRID and is based on the 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission.

Technical Specs: