Plug-in hybrids go upscale with the Mercedes-Benz Vision S 500, a concept car that gets 73.5 mpg and accelerates from zero to 60 in 5.5 seconds.
The Vision rolls into the Frankfurt auto show later this week and will sit alongside a Mercedes range-extended electric vehicle and a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle the German automaker starts building later this year. The big Benz sports a V6 gasoline engine mated to a 44 kilowatt (60 horsepower) three-phase AC motor powered by a 10 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery. The pack weighs 130 kilograms (about 287 pounds) and provides the Benz with a range of 30 kilometers (about 18 miles). That's about six miles further than the plug-in Prius we expect to see Toyota bring to Frankfurt.
Mercedes says 18 miles is plenty for tooling around town. The pack takes about 4.5 hours to recharge when plugged into a standard wall socket. It has a "quick charge" time of 60 minutes with a charging capacity of 20 kilowatts. The Vision gets 3.2 liters per 100 kilometers, which by our math works out to 73.5 mpg. Mercedes says it emits 74 grams of CO2 per kilometer. For comparison, the 2010 Toyota Prius emits 89.
The Vision S 500 builds on the technology underpinning the $90,000 S 400 Hybrid. It's just a concept at this point, but Mercedes says it provides a glimpse of future models.
"Although it will take some time before this model can go into series production, our engineers will be working full steam to carry out the necessary integration measures and ensure that all components can meet the tough everyday demands required of a luxury long-distance saloon," Daimler board member Dr. Thomas Weber said in a statement. "We've already got all the key technology needed for such a dream car."
So build it.
Photos: Mercedes-Benz. More after the jump.
The Vision S 500 plug-in hybrid features a V6 engine (not shown) mated to a 44 kilowatt electric motor. The drivetrain drives the rear wheels, and hte 10 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery sits behind the rear seat. It weighs 130 kilograms; the electric drivetrain adds just 215 kilograms to the weight of the S 500. Mercedes has no plans to produce the car at this point and says it is just a concept.
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