Cars.com (Enlarge photo)

Mercedes-Benz announced that its S400 BlueHybrid will hit European dealerships in the summer of 2009 and will arrive on U.S. shores shortly thereafter. The mild hybrid will couple a seven-speed automatic transmission with a 20-hp electric motor, for an expected combined mileage of 29.8 mpg. The current U.S. S500 gets 16 mpg combined, but Europe has a less-powerful gasoline version.

This would make the S400 the fuel-economy leader in large luxury sedans, as well as the first vehicle to hit the market using a lithium-ion battery. If you've been keeping up with news of... // Cars.com

Mercedes-Benz is launching its first passenger car model equipped with a hybrid drive system in summer 2009 - the S 400 BlueHYBRID. 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 190 grams per kilometre. These exemplary figures go hand in hand with assured performance. The 3.5-litre petrol engine develops an output of 205 kW/279 hp, the electric motor generates 15 kW/20 hp and a starting torque of 160 Nm. The result is a combined output of 220 kW/299 hp and a combined maximum torque of 385 newton... // AutoCorse.it

The company claims that the combination of a modified V6 petrol engine and a compact hybrid module makes the S400 BlueHYBRID the world's most economical luxury saloon with a spark-ignition engine.

The company also claims that 3.5-liter petrol engine develops an output of 279hp, the electric motor generates 20hp and a starting torque of 160Nm. The result is a combined output of 299hp and a combined maximum torque of 385Nm.

According to the... // Automotive Business Review

CAR Magazine (Enlarge photo)

A pancake-shaped electric motor sits between the engine and the modified seven-speed automatic transmission. It’s an advanced three-phase AC external rotor magneto motor, which develops 20bhp and 118lb ft of torque while operating at 120V.

As well as acting as a starter and generator for stop-start work in urban areas, the motor also recaptures lost energy during braking and when coasting. This recouped energy is stored in the Mercedes’... // CAR Magazine

STUTTGART September 18, 2008: Mercedes-Benz is launching its first passenger car model equipped with a hybrid drive system in summer 2009 - the S 400 BlueHYBRID. 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 190 grams per kilometre. These exemplary figures go hand in hand with assured performance. The 3.5-litre petrol engine develops an output of 205 kW/279 hp, the electric motor generates 15 kW/20 hp and a starting torque of 160 Nm. The result is a combined output of 220 kW/299 hp and a combined... // Autochannel

Mercedes -Benz has officially taken the wraps off its S400 BlueHYBRID. The S400 BlueHYBRID marks a major milestone for Mercedes as it is the marque’s first hybrid passenger vehicle (thanks to some supplier issues with the ML Hybrid). The S400 BlueHYBRID is largely based on the S350.

Using the S350 as a base, Mercedes engineers made a few tweaks to the driveline and, of course, added a hybrid drive system. The gasoline 3.5L V6 pumps out 279 horsepower with the electric motor adding 20 hp and 88 lb-ft or torque, bringing output to 299 hp and 285 lb-ft of torque. That power is routed through a seven-speed automatic transmission and is enough to scoot the S400 from 0-62 in a scant 7.2 seconds.... // LeftLane News

Mercedes-Benz has announced that it will launch the S400 BlueHYBRID, its first passenger car model equipped with a hybrid drive system, in summer 2009.

The company claims that the combination of a modified V6 petrol engine and a compact hybrid module makes the S400 BlueHYBRID the world's most economical luxury saloon with a spark-ignition engine.

The company also claims that 3.5-liter petrol engine develops an output of 279hp, the electric motor generates 20hp and a starting torque of 160Nm.... // RedOrbit

The first Mercedes-Benz production car to have a hybrid powertrain, and the world's first car with a lithium-ion battery - supplied by Continental - has been announced.

The new Mercedes-Benz S 400 BlueHybrid, a mild hybrid, is a new version of the three-year old S-Class sedan. Its 279hp (208kW) 3,498cc V6 gasoline engine is based upon the unit in the existing S 350, but an electric motor/generator and the first lithium-ion battery in a production car have been added. 

The S 400 BlueHybrid was previewed by the S 400 hybrid, a prototype that was exhibited at the Frankfurt IAA a year ago.

The new car's electric motor kicks in with extra 88 lb ft of torque under hard acceleration, as well as an additional 20 horsepower. Mercedes-Benz claims the combined torque output is 285 lb... // Automotive World

Los Angeles Times (Enlarge photo)

The Prius and the Smart Fortwo are all very well, but what about those people who need a bigger, more upscale car yet would still love to reduce their carbon footprint? Granted, there is the Lexus LS 600h hybrid luxury sedan -- which gets 22 mpg on the highway -- and, um, thats about it. Soon, however, Mercedes-Benz will offer another option. The 2009 S400 BlueHybrid .

This is a version of the S-Class , a venerable institution in the premium sector. The S350, to be exact. There is a reworked version of that models 279-horsepower, 3.5-liter gasoline-powered V-6. Yes, gasoline. The Blue part of the name might suggest to regular readers that diesel was involved . Perhaps M-B just wants to stand apart from everyone else purporting to be green.

Sharing the engine bay is a hybrid system with... // Los Angeles Times

Mercedes started with the S350’s 3.5-liter V-6 and added an electric motor powered by lithium ion batteries – the first in a production vehicle. The battery pack is small enough to fit in the engine compartment (the conventional battery was moved the trunk), while the 20 hp motor sits between the V-6 and the 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission. The entire package adds only 165 lbs. Engineers also squeezed more power and efficiency out of the gasoline engine by modifying the valve and camshaft timing while adding new cylinder heads and pistons. The changes net 7 hp, combining with the electric motor to make 299 hp and 284 lb-ft of torque.

In both form and function, the S400 skews toward the mild end of the hybrid spectrum. The electric motor never powers the car... // Automobile Magazine

STUTTGART, Germany — The Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHybrid, which the automaker describes as a "technological trend setter," will go on sale in September 2009 in the U.S., Mercedes-Benz USA spokesman Rob Moran told Inside Line on Wednesday.

Moran would not say how much the German automaker's first hybrid car model will cost here. "That information will be available closer to launch," he said. Mercedes-Benz issued a statement that the S400 BlueHybrid will go on sale in Europe in June 2009 and in China in August 2009.

The new S400 BlueHybrid, which was spun off the S350, gets a high-voltage lithium-ion battery which Mercedes-Benz notes was developed for automotive use. "This is another major contribution by Mercedes-Benz to the electrification of the car," it said. "[It] is the first such... // Edmunds.com/Inside Line

Mercedes-Benz is launching its first passenger car model equipped with a hybrid drive system in mid-2009 - the S 400 BlueHYBRID. With a modified 3.5-litre, 220kW (299hp) V6 petrol engine and a compact hybrid module producing an extra 15kW (20hp) it'll be one of the world's most economical luxury saloons with a spark-ignition engine. The NEDC combined fuel consumption is 7.9 litres per 100 kilometres, which beats the V8-powered Lexus LS600hL's 9.3l/100km. It also makes for the world's lowest CO2 emissions in this vehicle and performance class - just 190 grams per kilometre. These exemplary figures go hand in hand with assured performance. The new S 400 BlueHYBRID is the first series-production model to be equipped with a particularly efficient lithium-ion battery specially developed for... // Car and SUV

Autoblog.nl (Enlarge photo)

De auto is gebaseerd op de S 350 en daarmee uitgerust met een 3,5 liter V6 van 279 pk gekoppeld aan een 7G-Tronic automaat. Oh, en natuurlijk een elektromotor van nog eens 20 pk en 160 Nm. Deze wordt gevoed door moderne lithium-ionaccu’s en weet de benzinemotor zo te assisteren dat het gecombineerde verbruik blijft steken op 7,9 liter per 100 km; 2,2 liter minder dan de S 350. De CO2-uitstoot is een geheel slurptaks ontwijkende 190 gram per km, wat 21% minder is. Uiteraard worden de accu’s bijgeladen tijdens het uitrollen of remmen.

De prestaties zijn ook lekker: 7,2 seconden naar de 100 en een gelimiteerde... // Autoblog.nl

Washington DC September 15, 2008; The AIADA newsletter reported that in June 2009 the Mercedes-Benz will launch in Europe a 30-mpg hybrid version of its luxury S-Class sedan. Engineers say it will get 29.8 miles per gallon.

Launches in the U.S. and China will follow in September. The carmaker hasn't yet established a price for the hybrid, but Mercedes Sales and Marketing Director Klaus Maier said the premium will be less $14,000.

Cynics might say that people concerned about the environment and oil consumption should simply buy a smaller car. But... // Autochannel