Report: All upcoming Mercedes S-Class vehicles - including AMG - to be hybridized

I think their hybrids are assist type with start/stop and small electric motor.

 

Does that mean hybrid version will be available (along with non-hybrid) or will hybrid be the only choice?

 

I guess Mercedes is tired of getting all those fines from the epa because they haven't met cafe regulations since 1992.

 

Similar to Honda's IMA, the evolution of these technologies will be interesting to watch.
Obviously, MB sees promise in the approach.

 

Nice.
Mercedes must think hybrid use is better than ice only to make this move in their flagship line. I hope they push the technology to the E and C class.

Hybrid will be the only choice on their S-class cars.

 

Rubbish. Absolutely every other car maker especially the Germans have ZERO tech know how of mass produce hybrid tech. This is just playing the press (who are foolish to fall for it) to publish such a story to give the impression they are capable of producing something like the Prius. I know we are used hearing some negative and mostly unwarranted press about Toyota and the Prius, but there is no other car manufacturer capable of mass producing a car like the Prius.

 

Let's keep politics out of this, shall we ?

 

Heck, when we got our Lexus SUV hybrid, it replace our "HYBRID" Range Rover. You didn't know RR made a hybrid? Yea! Stop / Start. Manual. You have to turn the key.

Politics? Um, when did mentioning Germans have NO hybrids become political. Or was the fact that Mercedes is simply spinning green-wash PR the political part. I can't squeeze that out of the comment. I WAS going to mention that several MB's DO at least already have low drag coefficiencies ... which is good ... but it's not meant to sound too political.


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I thought Mercedes do have a full 2 mode hybrid in their ML class suv for a year(or two). BMW has no hybrids, and porsche just released a cayenne hybrid. The germans have them, just not bmw or audi

 

Anyone know:
Will the Mercedes S hybrids be "mild" or "full"?
Will they use Otto or Atkinson cycle engines?
NiMH or Li-Ion?

 

I assume the future s-class will continue the current s400 set up of mild hybrids with Lithium-ion packs.

2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid - Short Take Road Test - Auto Reviews - Car and Driver

Transforming the S-class into a mild hybrid—it cannot run on electric power alone—is the addition of a roughly 65-pound, shoebox-size, 0.9-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack under the hood and a 50-pound electric motor sandwiched between the engine and a seven-speed automatic.
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It is so mild, it appears to be weaker than IMA.

 

The sad thing is it has better fuel economy (Mercedes s400) than a full hybrid (Lexus LS 600hl) for 20k less. The Ls is faster though.... Of course the current s class hybrid is a 6 vs the 8 in the LS.

There is no reason that MB could not increase the power to the motor in future iterations. The 2 mode (found in the ML) actually works very well and comes with real awd (the awd-I found in toyota's hybrids doesn't perform well in mud and sand)

 

You are joking right? You are comparing a V6 assist hybrid to a V8 FULL hybrid.

S400 hybrid - 19 City / 26 Highway / 21 Combined (ULEV)
LS600h L - 20 City / 22 Highway / 21 Combined (SULEV)

 

You've got to be joking that a FULL hybrid gets the same MPG as a truly inferior assist hybrid, Oh and the 20k price gap will really be made up by the lack of gas savings in the LS

S400-19 city/26 highway/ 24 Combined

Ls 600hL 20/22 highway/ 20 Combined

 

Too bad LS doesn't have V6 hybrid to compare. V8 hybrid getting the same MPG as the V6 sounds good.

2-mode hybrid is too complex and expensive with little benefit. I think Mercedes is smart to use the assist hybrid. The lithium pack fits in the same location as the 12v lead acid under the hood.