Mercedes-Benz Australia has recently announced the coming of three new plug-in hybrid models that are set to arrive by this month’s end across dealerships countrywide.
The new plug-in hybrids models will span Mercedes-Benz’s size and price tiers, starting with the C 350 e, available as either the standard sedan or Estate body style), followed by an SUV in the GLE 500 e 4MATIC, and finally to add an environmentally conscious edge to their largest car comes the S 500 e.
Horst von Sanden, CEO and Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Cars Australia/Pacific said: "This is a very exciting time for Mercedes-Benz in Australia with three new Plug-in Hybrid models available to order from our dealerships today. We are in the fortunate position to offer our customers three different options, a medium sized sedan, a large SUV and a luxury saloon, but we won’t stop there. Plug-in Hybrid vehicles are an important part of our future business in Australia and early next year we will also launch the new E 350 e Plug-in Hybrid to continue our growth in alternative powertrain offerings."
Starting with the smallest of the trio, the C 350 e is priced at $75,300 for the sedan and $77,800 for the Estate. It’s combination of a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and electric motor generates 205kW and 600Nm but is able to deliver a combined fuel consumption figure as low as 2.4-litres/100km. With an all-electric range of 31k, the hybrid C-Class should be able to cover short trips without burning an drop of petrol.
In the C 350 e, Mercedes-Benz offers features standard features such as air suspension and pre-entry climate control as well.
Moving up in the pecking order as well as higher off the ground, the GLE 500 e 4MATIC is priced at $124,900 and aims to provide buyers with V8 power (through electric torque) but also the economy of a V6 or better when driving lightly. Benz quotes the hybrid GLE as returning 3.3-litres/100km on a combined cycle thanks to its 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine and 85kW electric motor, generating a combined 325kW and 650Nm of torque that’s good for a rather blistering sprint of 5.3 seconds to 100km/h.
Again, just like the C-Class, the petrol-electric GLE can travel short distances without tapping its fuel reserves. It’s all-electric range is similar to that of the C 350 e but has the ability to travel on battery power at up to 130km/h.
Finally, the S 500 e – priced at $319,715 - tops off the hybrid range of Mercedes-Benzes Down Under. In many ways, the hybrid system with its ability to cruise under fully-electric power matches the character of the S-Class more than the previous two cars.
Like the aforementioned GLE, the S 500 e is powered by the same 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol engine but aided by a 85kW electric motor to produce an identical power output to the SUV of 325kW and 650Nm. Curiously though, the S 500 e performs better in fuel economy (2.8-litres/100km) and is faster in a 0-100km/h sprint as well (5.2 seconds). What’s more, a 33km maximum all-electric range means that next visit to the country club needn’t be at all polluting.
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