The Mercedes stand at the Paris show will be filled with world premieres of the future style and ecological friendliness of the brand, as the Fascination Concept and C 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY are enriched by the presence of the S 400 Blue HYBRID as well.

The Blue Hybrid will be the first Mercedes hybrid and will be launched commercially in summer 2009. It’s technical base is the same as that of the S 350, and will include an innovative electric component, thanks to which this vehicle will consume only 7.9 litres of petrol for every 100 km. The 190 g/km of CO2 emissions make this one of the cleanest cars in the world.

Performance has improved as well with 300hp overall and torque at 385Nm. Rear wheel drive is a key element, and transmission will include a version of the 7G-Tronic with modified software. The car will also be equipped with start-stop technology which turns the engine off at under 15km/hr, and energy regeneration after braking.

The really strong point of this vehicle should prove to be the lithium ion battery that, used for the first time in the world on a series car, will signal the latest technological development in the long history of the S Class. The advantages compared to a traditional model include greater energy density, greater efficiency and a smaller and lighter car.

Performance details include 7.2 seconds to reach 100km/hr, and a limit of 250km/hr. But as already mentioned, the improvements in fuel efficiency and emissions are key here, with the S 350 saving 2.2 litres of petrol per 100 km, and reducing CO2 emissions by a good 21 percent.

The S 400 BlueHYBRID should open the way for a whole new generation of hybrids for the Mercedes brand. But it should also be a big step in the move towards electric vehicles.

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