The entire range of the next generation Mercedes C-Class set to appear in 2013 will be hybrid, according to reports from Autocar. The C-Class family would be Mercedes’ flagship ecological class, and the company expects that providing a hybrid line-up could get average fuel consumption down to supermini levels.

With ever-demanding anti-pollution norms in Europe, luxury car manufacturers are trying to meet the challenge of maintaining performance levels while adhering to stricter CO2 emissions levels. Already heading to development stage, Mercedes is aiming to get an ecological diesel engine down to 100 g/km of CO2 output, and between 110 and 120 g/km for the most economic petrol unit.

According to insiders, early prototypes are being tested but it hasn’t been decided yet whether to use three or four-cylinder engines, with the latter fitted with cylinder deactivation technology, meaning at times the engine could make use of just two cylinders. Some weight reducation will probably take place, too, in making this small fleet Mercedes’ most environmentally friendly.

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