Mercedes took advantage of the 2012 Detroit Motor Show to launch two new hybrid versions of the E-Class, one for the European market and another for the US and Asia.
A new hybrid version of the Mercedes E-Class will be headed for the UK after its launch at the Detroit Motor Show. The Mercedes E300 BlueTEC is the first car produced by Mercedes with a diesel-electric powertrain. The firm claim that with fuel consumption of 65mpg, the new E-Class hybrid is 'the most fuel-efficient luxury car in the world'.
The E300 BlueTEC features a 2.2-litre 198bhp diesel engine, taken from the E250 CDI, with a 27bhp electric motor. When combined these two power sources provide torque of 550lb-ft, which means that the new car has a similar level of performance to the E300 V6 diesel, but with a 35% reduction in fuel consumption. The CO2 emissions come in at 109g/km.
At low speeds the E200 BlueTEC is able to drive on electric power alone, with zero emissions. The electric motor also drives the new car for the first phase of acceleration from standstill, and then kicks in to assist the diesel engine when needed, such as for climbing steep hills or for overtaking.
Additional technology to improve fuel efficiency includes a stop-stop engine system, brake energy recovery, and a 'sailing' mode, which de-couples the internal combustion engine on demand and then maintains a specified speed until the battery runs down.
The second E-Class hybrid revealed by Mercedes at the Detroit Motor Show uses a 298bhp 3.5-litre petrol engine, and will be sold in the United States of America and in Asia.
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