19/09/2008 04:02. September 18, 2008 Mercedes-Benz is to bring its first hybrid drive passenger car to market in summer 2009. Based on the S 350, the S 400 BlueHYBRID combines a 205 kW (279 bhp) 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine with a 15 kW (20 bhp) electric motor for a combined output of 220 kW (299 bhp) and a combined maximum torque of 385 newton metres. The new Mercedes will be the world's most economical (7.9 l/100 km) luxury saloon with a spark-ignition engine and will have the world's lowest CO2 emissions in this vehicle and performance class at just 190 grams per kilometre. The motor will use a particularly efficient high-voltage lithium-ion battery specially developed for automotive use and a 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission specially configured for the hybrid module.

The compact hybrid... // Gizmag