Mercedes-Benz S-Class S400 Hybrid
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the company’s flagship model, and with good reason. Throughout the years, the S-Class has been at the forefront of engineering innovation. It was the first car to have airbags, the first to have traction control, and it has always been a good indicator of what technologies you would find as standard features in cars produced a few years later. The new S400 Hybrid doesn’t break any new green-technology ground, but is a stunning piece of engineering.
The S400 Hybrid doesn’t have the same hybrid drivetrain that is found on most other hybrid models. The electric motors are designed to aid the gasoline engine and are not capable of propelling the car on their own. When compared to the V8-powered S550 trim model, the results are astounding. Fuel economy in the V6 hybrid S400 is 47% better than the S550, but it still offers plenty of performance. The electric motor is connected to the engine’s flywheel and is able to produce over 100 lb-ft of torque from a dead stop. This allows the electric motor to aid in acceleration (0-to-60 mph takes about 7 seconds), but the electric motor can’t sustain that output. No problem, though, because as the electric motor dips, the gasoline engine has had time to spin up to regular power and picks up the slack. This is an elegant hybrid design that delivers the better fuel economy of a hybrid, but still has the power expected from a luxury sports sedan.
Advanced computer controls monitor the car’s battery pack and uses the chrage level to automate the use of the electric motor over the engine. For example, if you have a big charge, the electric motor will do most of the work while the engine slows down. If, however, the battery is on its last legs, the computer will signal the engine to pick up the pace while the battery recharges. This system enables the S400 to perform with the most efficient possible balance of electricity and gasoline, and the battery charging is almost exclusively done by regenerative braking systems, so the gas engine doesn’t have to work harder to charge the battery, making it more efficient at cruising speeds.
In all, the S400 delivers about 21 mpg city / 27 highway (official ratings haven’t been completed yet), and it does it with all the poise and luxury expected of a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Is it the most efficient hybrid? Certainly not, but you won’t find a more luxurious, responsive, and fuel efficient vehicle anywhere else in the luxury sports sedan segment.
