Earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz introduced us to its BlueEFFICIENCY line of vehicles, starting off with the C-Class saloons (sedans). At the time, the German automaker promised that the fuel-saving technology would make its way up the corporate ladder, and it has now reached the top rung, the S-Class. MB's new new S 320 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY manages a 10-percent improvement in fuel economy and emissions over the last CDI-powered S-Class model by way of "on-demand power steering," a 7 speed automatic transmission with "standstill decoupling" and low rolling resistance tires. You want numbers? For such a large car, the saloon manages nearly 31 miles per U.S. gallon (7.6 litres per 100km) and 199 g/km of carbon emissions. Still, zero to sixty acceleration is under 8 seconds, plenty fast for modern driving needs. On sale soon in Europe at €70,864.50, just shy of a hundred-grand in U.S. dollars, though conversions don't work like that. Full press release after the break.


[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

A week after Mercedes-Benz announced details of its first hybrid, battery supplier Continental Automotive has launched production of the battery packs. Mercedes will be the first manufacturer to mass produce a hybrid vehicles with lithium ion batteries. Continental spent €3 million to build the battery manufacturing facility in Nuremberg. The first batteries that being produced weigh 55 lbs and have a volume of just under 0.5 cu. ft. When the Mercedes S400 BlueHybrid launches in mid-2009 with this 120V battery pack it will be installed in the engine compartment in place of the standard 12V lead acid battery.

Since this is the first mass market automotive application of a lithium battery, Mercedes and Continental are being extra careful. The battery is designed to last a minimum of 10 years and 100,000-150,000 miles so Continental has developed a sophisticated monitoring system to make sure that it operates within normal operating parameters. Each individual cell is monitored to keeps loads balanced and ensure even charging and discharging. Continental had to develop special processes to weld the copper bus bars that act as cell interconnects. The whole battery is enclosed inside of a laser-welded stainless steel case. The initial production capacity of the factory is 15,000 units a year and that can easily be doubled.

[Source: Continental]

Mercedes-Benz has officially confirmed the launch of its first hybrid vehicle and provided plenty of details on the drive system. The S400 BlueHybrid will will go on sale next summer in Europe with a U.S. launch expected soon after. The S400 will be the first product of a collaboration between Daimler and BMW to develop a mild hybrid drive system. Unlike the Two-Mode hybrid system that Mercedes is putting into the ML450 hybrid, the mild system uses a conventional 7-speed Mercedes automatic transmission. The torque converter is replaced by a 20 hp disc-shaped electric motor/generator. The motor replaces the torque converter, alternator and starter motor and provides regenerative braking capability as well electric power boost and auto start/stop capability.

The S400 will also be the first series production hybrid vehicle and first high-volume production vehicle of any type (hybrid or electric) to use a lithium ion battery for energy storage. The 120 V battery supplied by Continental is packaged under the hood so it doesn't take up any cargo room. The lithium battery will actually replace the conventional 12 V lead acid battery and with the use of a transformer it will be used to provide power to all the electrical accessories in the car. Because the alternator is eliminated and some of the charging power for the battery comes from regenerative braking, parasitic losses in the car are reduced. The bottom line is that the hybrid S-class should get the best fuel economy in the large luxury car class. It will be rated at a combined 29.8 mpg (U.S.) on the EU test cycle compared to 23.3 mpg (U.S.) for the conventional S350.


[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Mercedes-Benz hasn't publicly announced an official on-sale date yet for its first hybrid models beyond the first half of 2009. However, BusinessWeek is reporting that the S400 BlueHybrid will go on sale in Europe in June 2009. The big gas-electric luxury sedan is due to arrive on U.S. roads one year from now. The S400 will use a lithium-ion battery pack and will likely be the first from a major automaker to do so. With a current U.S. base price of $86,700 for an S550, it's not quite clear where the hybrid will fit in the U.S. lineup. The S400 will pair the 3.5L V6 that is not available in the U.S. S-Class with the Daimler/BMW mild hybrid system. BusinessWeek reports the system will command a premium of less than €10,000 (I should hope so, since that's almost what Lexus charges for the full hybrid system on the LS600h). On the plus side, the Mercedes should get significantly better fuel economy than the Lexus. Mercedes is claiming 29.8 mpg (U.S.) for the hybrid although it remains to be seen how it will fare on the EPA cycle.

[Source: BusinessWeek]

German magazine Auto Motor und Sport is reporting that Mercedes-Benz expects one fifth of its vehicle sales to be hybrids by the middle of the next decade. The information came from Mercedes sales head Klaus Maier during an interview. Mercedes has already announced the first two hybrid models that will be coming to market in 2009. The S400 Hybrid will use Mercedes new mild hybrid system and a lithium ion battery some time in the spring. Later in the year, the ML450 using the Two-Mode hybrid system is scheduled to launch. Whether the ML hybrid launches on time is unknown at this time because of a lawsuit between Daimler and battery supplier Cobasys. Mercedes plans to launch at least one hybrid every year until 2015. The company has already shown several other hybrids as concepts in the past year including a BlueTec diesel hybrid version of the new GLK compact SUV. Thanks to Matt for the tip!

[Source: BenzInsider.com]

When the designers at Mercedes-Benz aren't working new and expensive production vehicles, they are sometimes set free to stretch the Mercedes image into new directions. For the upcoming Paris Motor Show, Daimler is going to show off a new design study vehicle called ConceptFASCINATION. The ideas behind ConceptFASCINATION are a revamped coupé styling, an "exclusive look," and "practical usability."

Even though the designers were told to go buck wild with the shooting brake look of the vehicle, the concept still has some reality built into the powerplant. A 2.2L four-cylinder diesel BlueTEC engine sits underhood which, according to Daimler AG board member Dr. Thomas Weber, who has responsibility for Research and Development at Mercedes Benz Cars, the car car "shows that Mercedes-Benz vehicles will also set standards in the future in terms of sustainability as well as emotional appeal, driving pleasure and comfort." If you think the designers nailed it, then check out the full details after the jump.


[Source: Daimler]

Mercedes today released a boatload of information on the new C 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Prime Edition which will house the company's totally redesigned four-cylinder diesel engine coming to Europe later this fall. The new engine displaces 2.2 liters and produces 150 kW / 204 hp and 500 Nm of torque, enough to move the C 250 from zero to 100 kmh in seven seconds. With all that power, let's not ignore the BlueEFFICIENCY tag, which means the C 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Prime Edition's CO₂ emissions are a respectable 138 grams per kilometer and drivers can expect 45 mpg (U.S.), calculated on the NEDC. Mercedes says this is "a value achieved by no other comparable motor car." The C 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Prime Edition got aero tweaks and low rolling resistance tires to enhance efficiency and there is a consumption display on the dash that tells the driver when to shift to another of the vehicle's six gears. 5,000 of these Prime Editions will be produced and will appear with a price tag of 40,638.50 euros ($57,527US).

If the engine sounds good to you but you're not keen on the C-Class looks, don't fret. Mercedes says the compact design of the new engine means it will someday be found in the E-Class, the new GLK-Class and in the upcoming E‑Class Coupé. Read more after the jump.


[Source: Mercedes]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the ML320 BLUETEC

We already knew that purchasers of VW's new clean diesel-powered Jetta for 2009 would be eligible for a tax credit of $1,300, and now more models from Germany get the same treatment from the Internal Revenue Service. All Mercedes-Benz models equipped with the BLUETEC emissions treatment technology will get a rebate. The 2009 GL320, R320 and ML320 BLUETEC are expected to go on sale beginning in October of this year, which should give prospective buyers plenty of time to get ready to prepare for the savings on their taxes. Each of the vehicles will get a different rebate ranging from $900 for the ML to $1,800 for the GL due to the process the IRS uses to determine how much fuel will be saved by the vehicle. As with other similar systems, each manufacturer is limited to 60,000 units sold before the rebates come to an end.


[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Click the S400 hybrid prototype for a high-res gallery

An attentive Autoblog reader spotted what appears to be a prototype Mercedes S400 Hybrid in a Houston Texas parking lot the other day. The test car's badges were all taped over, but the S400 and hybrid badging on the trunk lid seems to match the show concept. The S400 was shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show last fall and will launch into production in mid-2009 at about the same time as the ML450 Hybrid. While the SUV will use the Two-Mode hybrid system developed with GM, Chrysler, and BMW, the S400 will use the mild hybrid system created with BMW. The mild hybrid uses a 15kW motor sandwiched between the transmission and 3.5L V6. The Mercedes mild hybrid system is likely to be the first mass production hybrid with a lithium ion battery. At the auto show introduction, Mercedes claimed that the full-size hybrid luxury sedan will achieve nearly 30 mpg.



[Source: Chris N]

When Mercedes-Benz new compact SUV the GLK starts assaulting eyeballs on American roads next spring it will only have a 3.5L gasoline V6 under the hood. However, at the recent US press introduction of the GLK a Mercedes official revealed that it wouldn't stay way for long. Mercedes will add its new 2.2L turbodiesel four cylinder to both the GLK and the C-Class sedan perhaps by 2010. The engineers in Stuttgart are adding BlueTec emissions controls to the four cylinder diesel to make it clean enough to meet Tier 2 Bin 5 standards. In the GLK the 167 hp, 295 lb-ft diesel should yield real world mileage in the mid-30 mpg (US) region. If Mercedes follows through on this plan the GLK and C would join the company's large SUVs and the new E-Class next year with diesel power. Now if only they would put the camo back on until they do something about that styling.

[Source: Inside Line]

Click the ML320 BLUETEC for a high res gallery

Mercedes is expecting big things from its Bluetec badge, starting with its line of SUVs and crossovers. In fact, the German automaker expects fifteen percent of all if its utility vehicles to be sold with diesel engines. We think that figure may even be a bit low, considering that MB nearly sells that percentage already and is unable to sell the vehicles in the huge California market, among others. Though diesel prices are currently hovering a bit higher than already high gasoline prices, both Mercedes-Benz and AutoblogGreen expect that the roughly $1,000 Bluetec diesel premium will pay for itself in just over a year. When we got our first drive in the clean-diesel Benzes, we managed rather impressive mileage numbers in all three vehicles, both on the highway and in city driving.

Expect to see more of Mercedes' big diesel utes in green advertising. Stephen Cannon, vice president of marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA says, "We would like to give that Bluetec logo as much cachet as the term hybrid has." That will take some major marketing push, as the word "hybrid" is synonymous with green autos for many Americans.


[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

During a media preview of the new BlueTec diesel powered Mercedes SUVs here in Vermont, Thomas Ruhl Director of R-Class, SUV hybrid and BlueTec discussed some of the alternative drive systems coming from Stuttgart in the near future. While he didn't get into any of the electric car programs that have been discussed recently, he did talk about hybrids. Ruhl confirmed that the S400 BlueHybrid and ML450 BlueHybrid will be launched in the U.S. in 2009. BlueHybrid does not mean these are diesel hybrids, Blue is just the color that Mercedes and others are using to denote their cleaner, more efficient vehicles. When a diesel hybrid arrives it will be called a BlueTec Hybrid.

The S400 will use the mild hybrid system jointly developed by Mercedes and BMW and will be equipped with a lithium ion battery. The ML450 will be the first Mercedes application of the Two-Mode hybrid system. General Motors is building the Two-Mode hybrid transmissions for its own applications as well as supplying Chrylser. Similarly, Ruhl revealed that Mercedes would build the Two-Mode transmissions for both its own and BMW's vehicles. The X6 will be the first Munich model to get the hybrid treatment. The guts of the Mercedes-built units will be identical for both German brands and, like the American version, the only difference is the mechanical interface to connect the respective automakers engines as well as the control software. One item Ruhl declined to discuss is the battery for use with the Two-Mode hybrids. GM and Chrysler are both using nickel metal hydride. Mercedes is using lithium ion for the mild hybrid and the 'no comment' from Ruhl indicates that the same may be true for the Two-Mode.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

By the middle of the next decade Mercedes-Benz wants its entire lineup to be able to operate entirely free of petroleum. The German giant is working on a variety of technologies that will help provide crude oil free transport such as battery electrics, fuel cells and highly efficient internal combustion engines that can operate on biofuels. Mercedes has recently been letting European journalists sample some of these new powertrains at a test facility in Spain.

The F700 concept that debuted last fall in Frankfurt is powered by a turbocharged DiesOtto engine. The DiesOtto is Mercedes' branding for a combined HCCI and spark ignition engine that provides nearly the same efficiency as a diesel without the need for the expensive after-treatment systems. This and conventional diesel engines can run on biofuels and Mercedes hopes to launch the DiesOtto in production by 2010. Mercedes is also currently field testing electrically-driven vehicles with both batteries alone and fuel cells each of which they also plan to launch at the beginning of the decade. While it may well be that all Mercedes models in 2015 will be capable of running petroleum free, the reality is that many - if not most - will still be using fossil fuels much of the time. That may come in the form of coal for electricity, natural gas reformed into hydrogen, or petroleum fuels blended with biofuels. But you have to start somewhere.

[Source: The Sun]

Earlier this year, rumors of an all-electric luxury car from Mercedes-Benz hit our radar and now Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche has reportedly confirmed that his company is trying to release a high-class EV in 2010. This isn't the Smart EV, although that's still on the drawing board, but a separate Benz electric. The news comes from Thompson Financial (via Automotive News - subs req'd), which got a sneak peek at tomorrow's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung interview with Zetsche. Zetsche didn't reveal any more details (except to say that the price of the vehicle is dependent on if the batteries will be sold or leased) so we'll just return to our notes from March from an insider at Mercedes' Stuttgart Research Center. We also know that the Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHybrid, pictured, should be MB's first vehicle to use lithium-ion batteries.

[Source: Automotive News (subs req'd)]