Mercedes M-Class to get a Bluetec diesel-hybrid in 2 years

Thomas Weber told reporters at this year’s Geneva Motor Show that “in 2009 we will have the first Mercedes-branded hybrid on the market.” Well now we might know what model will be the first to go hybrid at Mercedes. Just-Auto is reporting that Mercedes-Benz could have a Bluetec diesel-electric hybrid variant of the M-Class on sale in the UK within the next two years. Mercedes-Benz will be working with BMW, sharing hybrid technology to producing the SUV and other hybrids to later arrive on the market.

The Bluetec diesel-hybrid M-Class is expected to get 40 mpg with CO2 emissions to be under 200g/km.
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enthusiastx11 - 4/19/2007 12:50:12 AM

0 Boost

a statement only a backward individual would make.

budfrogS4 - 4/18/2007 10:33:25 AM

+3 Boost

Also an asian american myself, I am not blinded by patriotism. I'd rather support something that has the potential to be truly superior and that is the integration of diesel and hybrids. I like the asian approach with hybrids and it's ability to conserve the amount of fuel we use but this takes it a step further and provides us a way to conserve (actually, conserve even futher) and use a renewable fuel source.

budfrogS4 - 4/18/2007 10:38:17 AM

+5 Boost

Is 40 mpg what they're aiming for or is the number based on an engine they are working on? With only 40 mpg (ya i know it's a suv) it still sounds like a burly engine. Diesel v8 power for diesel v6 efficiency?

SupraNeverBack - 4/18/2007 12:25:10 PM

-2 Boost

Yeah, diesel hybrid, whatever they are smoking.

If they could make a gas hybrid in 2009, I will applause for them.

budfrogS4 - 4/18/2007 12:44:35 PM

+2 Boost

Granted I don't know much about how hybrid systems work but I'm not sure why it'd be that much harder than a gas hybrid. The two powertrains aren't that much different (diesel vs petrol). Then again, we've seen over and over that anticipated dates are usually a year or two premature.

Agent63 - 4/18/2007 9:48:55 PM

+3 Boost

Mercedes is famous for diesels I don't know what you're smoking.

It's not like Toyota was the first to implement hybrid-technology into a car anyway so I don't see what the brag is about.

enthusiastx11 - 4/19/2007 12:48:21 AM

+1 Boost

diesels get far better mileage than their gasoline counterparts.
therefore...
a hybrid diesel will get far better mileage than a hybrid gasoline engine.

makes a lot of sense. to argue against it is simply closed-minded.

S4cabriofoxone - 4/19/2007 12:30:11 AM

+3 Boost

However, the ML320 Hyblutec gets better mileage than the GS450h, and it also has a trunk that is about ten times the size. Don't be surprised if it's less money to boot.

S4cabriofoxone - 4/19/2007 12:31:30 AM

+2 Boost

BTW, read the fine print:

"The Bluetec diesel-hybrid M-Class is expected to get 40 mpg with CO2 emissions to be under 200g/km."

"...under 200g/km."

"...under 200g/km."

This is the same thing that happened in my own IS-F thread, months ago. Some were speculating that the engine power would "only" be 400hp, but Lexs clearly stated "over 400hp." Hipocrite!

enthusiastx11 - 4/19/2007 12:53:42 AM

+2 Boost

and the GS450h gets 20mpg overall per the most recent test in car & driver.
this SUV is expected to get DOUBLE the mileage.
so how exactly is the GSh superior? 182 vs 200 CO2 isn't much difference.

enthusiastx11 - 4/19/2007 12:54:46 AM

+3 Boost

huu:
and the GS450h is "priced for the everyday person?" it's $65,000!!

enthusiastx11 - 4/19/2007 12:49:30 AM

+2 Boost

great that they're adding a hybrid component to already efficient and proven diesel technology. 40mpg is damn impressive for a luxury SUV!

Anthony - 4/19/2007 2:20:26 AM

0 Boost

It is only now when more people start to take hybrids seriously. Thank you Toyota for putting hybrid technology on the forefront.

S4cabriofoxone - 4/19/2007 10:29:19 PM

0 Boost

I still don't, to be honest. It's not a lasting technology. The M Hybluetec just has amazing mileage- much better than any Lexus hybrid, and even on par with the Camry hybrid. If it were not a hybrid, I would take it that much better; I feel that you can extract much more efficiency out of the average engine than most automakers do today. WITHOUT using hybrids.

silent_power - 4/19/2007 12:58:35 PM

+1 Boost

Why people persist to compare GS450h and ML320?
GS450h is the fastest GS sedan. If you want a SUV then RX400h is for you.Both GS450h,RX400h get same mpg's, yet GS450h does 0-60 in less than 5.5 seconds...