cymro

Apparently, will be available in USA early 2015.

See:

http://ecomento.com/2014/01/21/early...hybrid-follow/

Jason B

Would love to see a full electric vehicle like the Tesla Model S. The S class Hybrids never performed that well, in everyday life.. For ex the 2013 S400 didn't. And I'm not talking about 0-60.

http://m.cnet.com/videos/2010-merced...ybrid/50083789

Scroll to 5:20 on the video. Not liking that.

06E55

Turn the start/stop off... Not to mention, this was a 2010 model... The technology has made many improvements since then. And is now on pretty much every MB model produced now, including AMGs...

Szidon

2010 S400 .... different battery, different engine than a 2015 S500, so not entirely relevant. This, the NEW S500 hybrid, is supposed to be released in Europe in the fall and the US in early 2015, so we will have time to hear some reviews from Europe.

I will be interested in the early reviews and also in the pricing, compared to the 2015 S550.

Tomshop

Will there be a 4matic option?

Wolfman

Do you guys know that this car has fuel economy of 78mpg? If the tank is the same size of the stock S550, this would be 1700 miles per tank!

Jason B

The previous car has taken a serious beating...

These S400's with low miles are over $10k+ cheaper than used S550's. I have a friend looking and we can't figure out why they have much lower resale.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-Benz-S-Class-4dr-Sdn-S400-Hybrid-RWD-FREE-SHIPPING-CONT-USA-Donohoo-Premium-2-Package-/201024419238?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2ecdfd35a6&item=201024419238&pt=US_Cars_Trucks
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-Benz-S-Class-4dr-Sdn-S400-Hybrid-RWD-FREE-SHIPPING-CONT-USA-Donohoo-Premium-2-Package-/201024418782?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2ecdfd33de&item=201024418782&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

Wolfman

Not sure why you are continuously talking about older cars here. Older tech in the W221. The S500 Hybrid has more power than the S400 and less than half of the fuel consumption.

Re. resale value, high-end hybrids are taking a beating in resale value in the US, just like Diesels. A Diesel is viewed as a step up from a gasoline engine in Europe for example. More expensive and higher tech engines with radically lower consumption.
I remember driving a 2013 Audi A8 a few months back in Germany; 800 miles per tank!

cymro

The old W221 S400H was very slow, and it's fuel economy wasn't very good. I believe the car was a way for MB to get experience with Li-ion batteries.

OTOH, The new W222 S500H has decent acceleration, and, if you commute about 20 miles each way and can recharge at work, remarkable fuel economy.

In addition, motoring on electricity alone is a near silent and very pleasurable experience - the non plug in hybrids do not go far on electricity alone.

According to this article, which quotes a MB official:

http://www.futurecars.com/news/hybri...-in-early-2015

The S500H and the new C class plug in hybrid will share the same drive train, but the C class goes 31 miles instead of 18 miles on electricity alone. If the same battery is used (6.1KWh capacity), and we assume that MB does not allow discharge below about 1 KWh in order to safeguard the battery, then the S500H goes 18 miles on about 5KWh (3.6 miles/KWh), while the C class goes 31 miles on 5KWh (6.2 miles/KWh). I find the latter figure hard to believe; AFAIK, most cars in pure electric mode do around 3 to 4 miles per KWh.

Anybody else have some thoughts on this?

Jason B

So in the USA, the expensive hybrids and diesels don't do well for resale. That's what I was wondering. Interesting how things change by location.

Wolfman

High-end hybrids are virtually unknown in the US and there is simply ver y little customer demand.
For example BMW used to have the 750 Active Hybrid until 2012. That car was faster than the regular 750 TwinTurbo, more expensive and virtually unsellable.
I remember seeing Bimmerfest forum members leasing these cars new ($110k) for $600 to $700 a month!

That said, Diesels are another story. Highly regarded almost anywhere in the world and typically recognized as a better car than their gasoline counterparts (except the very top end), the US just never adapted Diesel for anything else but trucks. MB sold Diesels here way back when but then pulled the plug until recently.
Lower grade Diesel and less pumps at gas stations, along with higher prices and the (wrong) stigma of being noisy, smelly and slow, Diesel sedans haven't caught on, disregarding any emissions debate.

In Europe, where gas easily costs $9 a gallon, having the same car with half the consumption or less is very appealing. Plus these things are fast! I had no problems cruising at 150-160mph with the Audi A8 for long stretches and without the delimiter this would have been a nice 170mph car...

Szidon

I believe the S400 Hybrid had little difference in MPG from the gas engine. Also, the S400 Hybrid had some weak reviews --- the ride was not as smooth as it SHOULD be at times.

I am hopeful the early reviews that come out of Europe (to be released in Europe in the Fall in the US early 2015) will give us confidence that the 2015 S500 hybrid does not repeat the issues the early S400 had. At the same time, the folks in Germany are skeptical about sales and said a limited quantity (??) would be available the first year until they see how the vehicle is received in the marketplace.

joshg1001

the s400 was basically a V6 powered S class, no wonder it failed. Tacking on a lithium battery in the engine compartment making it a mild hybrid was a half assed attempt at a hybrid.

The S500 plug in is a much better attempt. Cant wait to see the numbers and specs

jdmmbz

In Hybrid happy Japan. The S400 is selling really well so far.