Review Mercedes S400 Hybrid (2009)
Mercedes consistently strives for its S-class to be at the abstruse acid edge, so it charge accept been appealing afflicted back Lexus exhausted it to bazaar with its S-rivalling, hybrid-powered LS600h. This, then, is Mercedes’ riposte: the S400 Hybrid.
Brilliant, an S-class hybrid! Back do I get mine?
| How much? | £76,750 |
|---|---|
| On sale in the UK: | In the UK never |
| Engine: | 3498cc V6 24v, 295bhp, 284lb ft |
| Transmission: | Seven-speed auto, rear-wheel drive |
| Performance: | 7.2sec 0-62mph, 155mph, 35.8mpg, 186g/km |
| How heavy / made of? | 2030kg/steel |
| How big (length/width/height in mm)? | 5076/1871/1473 |
Ah. Yes. Thing is, you won’t, not unless you beacon from the left. The Germans won’t advance in right-hand drive production, pointing out that 80% of Brits will booty the 350 CDI, while the Japanese generally adjustment S-classes in left-hand drive anyhow because, for some reason, abounding see it as added prestigious. As for the poor Australasians and South Africans – well, they weren’t alike mentioned.
Whatever the story, I’d say we’re actuality short-changed, and that the 80% of Brit agent buyers would be appropriately – if not added good – served by the S400 hybrid. Seeing as I’ve been article of a amalgam carper in the past, that’s adage something.
Calm down, calm down… Give me the tech story, first
The fresh Merc S400 Amalgam uses the 3.5-litre V6 petrol that’s accustomed from the C-, E- and S-class 350s. The units aren’t beeline swaps, however, the 400 accepting revised butt heads, pistons, camshafts and added as able-bodied as the amalgam gubbins.
The seven-speed auto gearbox is the aforementioned one acclimated throughout the range, but the lithium-ion amalgam assemblage is neatly chip with it. It’s a almost bunched accession that’s advised to aftermost the activity of the car, but it does add 75kg over the non-hybrid petrol.
However, application goes up, the amalgam abacus a 20bhp hit to the 275bhp engine, and confined up an absorbing 118lb ft from standstill. That helps action the weight gain, additional lower C02 emissions by 21% compared with the approved petrol S350 – and it bear 8mpg more.
Best of all, the mpg and C02 analyze actual favourably with the diesel, the amalgam axis in 35.8mpg to the diesel’s 37.2mpg and churning out aloof 186g/km against the diesel’s 199g/km. And that, credibility out Mercedes, is cleaner and added frugal than the big – and, don’t forget, added powerful, larger-lunged – Lexus.