| by Uncle Sha | 14th Aug 2009 |
The German premium car maker has created an Experimental Safety Vehicle, the ESF 2009 which is based on the upcoming S400 Hybrid. It is their first vehicle of this nature since the ESV 24 which was introduced at the 1974 Geneva Motor Show.
In 2007, Mercedes-Benz announced plans for the S400, a W221 mild hybrid model developed in the Global Hybrid Cooperation featuring a 3.5-liter gasoline V6 engine mated to an electric motor, slated for release around 2009.
Promotional Clip
In early 2008, Mercedes-Benz added that the hybrid S400 would incorporate a lithium-ion battery, a first for mainstream hybrid automobiles.
In October 2008, Mercedes-Benz subsequently announced the production of the S400 BlueHYBRID, based on the S350 model.
The vehicle will be launched in calendar 2009.
The 3.5-litre petrol engine develops an output of 205 kW/279 hp, the electric motor generates 15 kW/20 hp and a starting torque of 160 Nm. The result is a combined output of 220 kW/299 hp and a combined maximum torque of 385 newton metres.
Daimler Statement
In April 2008, Daimler unveiled battery technology for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class limousine that it developed jointly with tires-and-parts supplier Continental AG.
An S300 Bluetec hybrid is going to appear in the next years, making Mercedes-Benz one of the first companies to combine a hybrid powertrain with a diesel engine (diesel-electric hybrid vehicle) in a production vehicle. Visionary Vehicles (VV) also intends to bring a $35,000 luxury Mercedes-Benz S-Class V2G-capable PHEV to market around 2010. VV just announced it would compete for the X-Prize.
Driving Footage
