Mercedes-Benz wants full hybrid lineup by 2013

Mercedes-Benz Vision S 500 Plug-in Hybrid Concept - hi res

Full lineup to include hybrid variants of the C-Class, E-Class and S-Class along with a plug-in hybrid S-Class too

Mercedes-Benz wants to have a full hybrid lineup in both Europe and the United States by 2014.

"We have a leading position in the premium segment concerning alternative propulsion systems, and we will defend it," said Daimler's E-Drive and Future Mobility chief, Herbert Kohler, in an interview with Automotive News Europe.

The full hybrid lineup will include a C-Class hybrid and E-Class hybrid variants launched in Europe by 2013 and the S-Class plug-in hybrid (pictured here in concept form) debuting by 2014. U.S.-market launches for those models will follow six-months after their European debuts.

Kohler said that Daimler spends about half of its research and development budget of €4.1 billion ($5.6 billion) on alternative powertrain technologies.

Source: autonews.com (sub req)

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eddie

More power, less gas....that sounds great. These are just bridge cars until Fuel cells are more affordable. When Clinton left office he gave the big 3, 1 billion dollars to have the first production fuel....It looks like the repeat of the 1970's Honda already has the Clarity, MB is coming out with a B class Fuel cell, Hyundai with its crossover in 2015

January 26, 2011 2:22 pm

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eddie

Porsche Cayene hybrid is pretty impressive. I believe Volvo is coming out with a diesel hybrid( lots of torque and good mileage)

January 26, 2011 2:27 pm

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joelynn

"We have a leading position in the premium segment concerning alternative propulsion systems" I object to this statement, considering Lexus has a hybrid GS, LS and RX and Mercedes currently offers what??

January 26, 2011 4:15 pm

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6SPEEDV8

And don't forget the HS. To be fair Mercedes does have the ML and S 400 Hybrids, and 3 'BlueTec' diesels which may count as 'alternative propulsion systems' in the US.

January 26, 2011 5:03 pm

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B_M_Gearhead

We have allready performed pre-deliver inspections on a few fuel cell vehicles here in Southern California. They are allready on the street being driven daily. Not sure how many other manufacturers have such vehicles allready into production. I'm willing to guess zero.

January 27, 2011 9:11 am

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Garais87

i think that Audi has the best hybrid concept of all at the moment... e-Tron Spyder is a hybrid that features a mid-mounted (rear) twin-turbo V6 TDI diesel engine with 300 PS (221 kW) and a hefty 650 Nm (479 lb-ft) of torque powering the rear axle only to be complimented by an additional 64 kW (87 PS) and 352 Nm (260 lb-ft) of torque from the two electric motors fitted to the front axle. Add that to a 1,450 kg (3,197 lbs) curb weight distributed front to back in an even 50:50 ratio and you have some impressive handling and performance figures. 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) takes 4.4 seconds, top speed is an electronically-limited 250 km/h (155.34 mph). More impressive than that is the fuel-economy for such a raging supercar. 2.2 liters/100 km (106.92 US mpg) and CO2 emissions of just 59 g/km (94.95 g/mile). A fill-up of diesel on the 50-liter tank will get you a range of more than 1,000 km (621 mi).

January 26, 2011 5:02 pm

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Han Solo

To all Hybrid haters...CO2 can kill...both the environment and us, so like it or not we need Hybrids and Electric Vehicles...to save ourselves. Trust me, we will have EVs more powerful than a Gas Guzzling W12 Engine in the very near future...

January 26, 2011 5:32 pm

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CarLover89

Hanssolo58 Nature creates and deals with its own CO2 the problem is over logging not Gasoline cars besides that Huge companies make more than 80% of the Pollution and Hybrid and Electric cars damage the world much more that the manufacturing of ordinary cars. sideskraper I do drive and have driven better cars than you can ever dream of driving bud- Damn stupid internet Thug

January 27, 2011 12:59 am

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CarLover89

@CDSpeed I do like cars and I respect all cars just dont feel that Hybrids and Electric cars are viable because they cause more damage to our world than benefit.

January 27, 2011 2:28 pm

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CDspeed

EVs and Hybrids are actually less damaging then gasoline. Yes, battery production isn't exactly clean but oil drilling can be far worse. Yes, batteries can be produce in one country and have to be sent to the car manufacturer, but oil from the Middle East doesn't get to places like the US by magic, it has to be shipped. Yes, power plants are dirty, but think of all the things you're powering now that run all day, EVs use roughly the same amount of energy as a refrigerator, but EVs only need to be plugged-in when they need charging. The way EVs are cleaner is in using them, they don't require nearly as much service, and emit nothing while you drive. And hybrids give you better mileage and some hybrids can actually have higher performance figures then the gas only versions, like the BMW 7-series hybrid.

January 28, 2011 9:49 am

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