With car manufacturers across the globe jumping on the eco-friendly bandwagon, Mercedes is certainly not to be left behind. After an electric Jaguar XJ and a Rolls-Royce Phantom, the next Mercedes-Benz S-Class may very well have a full electric variant. The company’s technical boss says,
At the moment, we are looking at customer demand.
It does seem that tapping into the hybrid market is definitely a vision and strategy of the iconic brand.
The industry is abuzz with rumors and it will be a nail-biting wait to see which engine will be the mainstay of the hybrid S-Class. Likely to be powered by Mercedes’ latest V6 and V8 petrol engines, this next-gen car should have both, the hybrid and the plug-in hybrid versions. There are speculations about diesel variants which may include the 2.2 litre, 201 bhp, four cylinder engine. The smallest engine ever in the S-Class, this is also used the current S250 CDI.
With no carry-over of interior design from the existing models, most of it will draw influence from the Mercedes-Benz F800 Style Concept. For those of you who don’t remember, this was the stunning design revealed at the Geneva Motor Show back in March. The F800 style concept was characterized by lightness, translucency and certain unique features like armrests which seem to float in air. Most noticeable was the lack of the B-pillar which made the entire space of the cabin very accessible. Interiors of the hybrid S-Class will likely be loaded with similar and exciting new technology. Expect to see futuristic heads-up displays and even a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) touchpad which will send the hearts of the tech savvy racing. You can also expect heavy reliance on technological driver-assist features which will help in increasing safety, reducing travel times and making the ride more comfortable and convenient.
Mercedes has always been a pioneer. It will reaffirm its footing in the world auto scene by pushing the barriers of innovation in the hybrid luxury sedan market, if the hybrid S-Class features some of these marvels. With many new government regulations, it is not surprising to see Mercedes contemplating a foray into the ‘zero-emissions’ market. Is this a clear sign of slow death for the gas guzzling monsters that have ruled the road so far?
Source: Autocar
