Mercedes-Benz tests S-Class hybrid in Dubai

"Environmental protection and sustainable mobility is a priority for Mercedes-Benz, the number one premium automotive manufacturer in the Middle East," said Frank Bernthaler, Director, Mercedes-Benz Cars, Middle East and Levant.

"Our S-Class is the first of a series of initiatives that Mercedes-Benz is implementing to tackle environmental issues. Our latest, revealed at the Detroit Motor Show, is the near series production BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS with electric drive and a range extending additional internal combustion engine as power generator. This version has an overall range of up to 600 kilometres and can cover a distance of up to 100 kilometres using electric drive alone."

Bernthaler added that Mercedes-Benz welcomed moves across the region and particularly in the UAE to introduce environmental regulations and said that Mercedes-Benz also aimed to protect the future of the region and the company with innovative technologies.

Over the last few years Mercedes-Benz has introduced a stream of new fuel efficient vehicles and in 2008 was the number one seller of luxury vehicles in the Middle East & Levant delivering over 19,000 cars to customers.

The combination of a modified V6 petrol engine and a compact hybrid module makes the S 400 BlueHYBRID the world's most economical luxury saloon with a spark-ignition engine.

The NEDC combined fuel consumption is a mere 7.9 litres per 100 kilometres. This makes for the world's lowest CO2 emissions in this vehicle and performance class - just 186 grams per kilometre. These exemplary figures go hand in hand with assured performance.

The 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine with variable valve control has been thoroughly re-engineered and improved. In the process the development engineers made use of the advantages offered by the Atkinson principle, where the expansion phase is longer than the compression phase.

The intake valve is kept open slightly longer between the intake and compression phases, which improves the engine's thermal efficiency while reducing the specific fuel consumption and untreated emissions. A new cylinder head, different pistons and a modified camshaft with different camshaft control increase the output by 7 hp while reducing fuel consumption at the same time.

The S 400 BlueHybrid accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds, and reaches an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h. It betters the already very favourable NEDC fuel consumption of the conventionally powered S 350 by up to 2.2 litres per 100 kilometres. CO2 emissions are reduced by 21 percent.

The new S 400 BlueHybrid is the first Mercedes-Benz model to be equipped with a particularly efficient lithium-ion battery specially developed for automotive use. This is another major contribution by Mercedes-Benz to the electrification of the car.