Pure GENIUS or SUICIDE: Rumors Saying Mercedes-Benz's Flagship To Offer ONLY Hybrids For Non-AMGs

It's all rumor for now....... And even if not whose to say it'll only have say, 300HP.

It's very possible that a V8/S550 hybrid may easily put out around 400HP or more......

@Bond

Although you have a point, why would they want to produce a V8/performance hybrid when the AMG's are there for that kind of gig?

Lexus marketing is capatilizing on all of this hybrid news from MB and BMW. Notice their recent ad campaigns claiming they had hybrids before Facebook started...

"Pure GENIUS or SUICIDE"

How is Mercedes Benz genius here when Lexus was the first to do Flagship hybrid (LS600h). BMW and Mercedes just followed/copied so they are not genius. Same case with eight speed automatic which also help in overall fuel economy, Lexus was the first to do it.

Please rethink the headline and give credit to those who are real genius and are still coming out with more hybrids than anyone else like HS250h and CT200h. Toyota was and is the real genius in case of hybrids and all others are just catching up.

JUGNU

While Lexus was the first to do the whole flagship hybrid (LS) thing it doesn't mean they are genius. The car tried to be a Maybach-like super saloon. While I like the boring looks of my 460 the car is not inspired nor is it genius. The parking feature is kind of cool to talk about but in practice I park faster with one hand. I also have the S550 and I feel that with all hybrid offerings it may kill the sales. If they pair a nice blutec diesel with a hybrid imagine the possibilities when it comes to mileage. In that regard it could be genius. But the whole concept of having only petrol AMG's as the sole keeper of traditional motors that's absurd.

Honda was the first to have a hybrid in the US. They would have been genius to start the trend but marketing was a factor. It's all marketing that's got everyone of you to bite and that's why we're having discussions like this. Hybrid vs the world. Hybrid is not the future. Diesels are still very dominant in the world (primarily in Asia, Europe and parts of Russia).

But anyhow. For any brand or model, having an all hybrid line-up is dumb. NOW...having said that, if their hybrids still manage to put out similar power and figures then to the owner it won't make much of a difference.

BMW and Mercedes is following the trend but that's from a business standpoint. Lexus was created to copy and follow Mercedes from the get-go. That's why it's the Japanese Mercedes.

I'm not a hater, just my opinion. I love all brands!!!!. I appreciate all cars.

JUGNU is well known to prefer quantity over quality

agent63--

you always make references to your LS460 as a preface to your prejudices against lexus. did YOU really choose that car, or did your wife MAKE you get it?

"Honda was the first to have a hybrid in the US. They would have been genius to start the trend but marketing was a factor. It's all marketing that's got everyone of you to bite and that's why we're having discussions like this. Hybrid vs the world. Hybrid is not the future."

wrong on all counts. yes, honda beat toyota to the u.s. market, but toyota developed and sold hybrids FIRST in japan. and the success of the prius IS NOT all due to 'just marketing.' the car is a genuine game changer for the whole industry. it DOES deliver superior efficiency and mileage. even the F1 rule writers recognize this, with req'ts for KERS in the future.

toyota spent almost 10 years in hybrid development, and at the outset, they aimed at designing and building a car that would be at leat 10 years ahead of all contemporary cars. only honda had the tech ability (and maybe spies to discern toyota's goal) to come up with its own hybrid so quickly. and even then, honda's system is half a notch below toyota's.

if hybrid is not the future, then only full electric is. hybrid is the major stepping stone to that future. that even the diesel diehard germans are choosing hybrids too now, simply verifies this.

with or without ICEs, EVERY FUTURE CAR will have a motive battery pack.

@Juggies

The genius has NOTHING to do with who was first.

It has to do with the company taking a risk and making ALL of their S-Class models hybrids -- with AMG's being the exception.

I'm guessing it's just a rumor. Sometime in the future, but not yet. After 2015 it very well could be true, and then some.

Lol, did someone say the LS 8 speed hunts for gears?? Who cares, I work for a black car co. Which has S550 7spd and LS 460, these cars have more than 150,000 miles in less than 2 yrs, all Benz 7spd in fleet failed at least once and so many more rediculous problems, 8 spd LEX none failed and these drivers f*k up the cars when no pax r inside like there is no tomorrow…

IMO, its not such a bad idea considering Mercedes is always introducing new technology with each new model. This could however be a standard among Luxury cars if again, power is not compromised, fuel efficiency is improved, repair bills and maintenance cost remain the same or lower, price will not increase dramatically. This just refers to engine. As for transmissions, its a different issue.

lol @ you... Mercedes copying Lexus? Mercedes-Benz invented the automobile, jackass.

yeah, what has MB done for us LATELY?

Oldsmobile was in early on the car biz too. and where are they NOW?

when MB goes bankrupt like GM (with or without a bailout too), toyota/lexus will still be around producing cars AND coming up with new technologies too.

I'm all for hybrids, but curious why it is spec'd for such dismal performance.

It definitely would be a huge move if this is true. It might be. I guess these guys see the writing on the wall: 19th century oil/gas/coal energy days are numbered. I'm guessing they have done the reasearch and figured out that once the economy recovers and China/India keep developing, 5-10 years from now oil prices will go through the roof.

With the efficient diesels Benz is known for I really see this as a rumour and not much more.

As you may know, BMW are better at Diesel cars.. then again Diesel is not the future !

'clean' as modern diesels are, they still emit CANCER CAUSING SOOT.

statistics have shown that in port cities, with high concentrations of diesel exhaust, cancer rates are measurably and significantly HIGHER than comparable cities not having high diesel traffic.

Interesting. Well I guess Cadillac wasnt too off with the disappointing XTS (as far as drivetrain goes).

good points huu. and note everyone, that the koreans are going HYBRID, not diesel.

the supposed superior torque of diesels is also overrated. most of it is just due to turbocharging. turbo a gas engine and it will have gobs of low end grunt too.

otoh, take the turbos OUT of any modern diesel, and they all become gutless and slow as they have always been before turbo-diesels became the ONLY way to keep oil burners viable.