The Mercedes-Benz E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid and E 400 Hybrid will each have their world premieres at January’s Detroit auto show.
While the E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid has been seen before in concept form, this will be the first appearance for the E 400 Hybrid. The BlueTEC-badged car’s powertrain combines a four-cylinder diesel engine with an electric motor. It will be sold mostly in Europe and available as both a sedan and wagon. The E 400 Hybrid, on the other hand, is powered by a V6 petrol engine and an electric motor. It will be launched first in the US, with sales in Japan and China ‘later’, the company claims.
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The E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid uses the same 2.1-litre diesel engine and electric motor powertrain as was announced in June for the forthcoming ML 300 BlueTEC Hybrid. Mercedes-Benz says the combined power output is the same 204hp (150kW) as that of the existing E 250 CDI. The cars also have the same 500Nm torque figure.
Mercedes-Benz quotes a CO2 average of 109g/km for the E 300 diesel hybrid as well as 4.2 litres per 100km but fails to state which cycle the fuel consumption number is for.
The petrol-engined E 400 Hybrid is said to produce 306hp (225kW) from its 3.0-litre engine, plus another 20kW courtesy of the motor. The consumption figures based on the American CAFE standard are: City 24 mpg, Highway 31 mpg, Combined 27 mpg.
Other than ‘later in 2012’, no exact launch dates for the new hybrids have been announced. Like other E-Class variants, they will be manufactured at Sindelfingen in Germany. Right-hand drive cars will also be made.
While the S 400 Hybrid is currently the only hybrid Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicle, the addition of the diesel-engined ML 300 BlueTEC Hybrid and E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid, plus the petrol-powered E 400 Hybrid will give the brand a four-model range from next year.
