February 21st, 2009

Mercedes-Benz is launching its first passenger car model equipped with a hybrid drive system in summer 2009 – the S 400 BlueHYBRID. The sedan will combine a modified V6 gas engine and a compact hybrid module that Mercedes-Benz says will make the S 400 BlueHYBRID, based on the S 350, the world’s most economical luxury car with a spark-ignition engine. The new S 400 BlueHYBRID is the first series-production model to be equipped with a particularly efficient lithium-ion battery specially developed for automotive use.

Photo: © 2009 Daimler AG

The new Mercedes-Benz S 400 BlueHYBRID is based on the S 350, and features an extensively modified drive train. This encompasses a further development of the 3.5-litre V6 gas engine, an additional magneto-electric motor, the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission specially configured for the hybrid module, the necessary operating and control electronics, the transformer and a high-voltage lithium-ion battery.

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