The new Mercedes-Benz S 500 Plug-In Hybrid will be the third hybrid model in the S-Class lineup. With its 3.0 liter turbocharged V6 combined with the 80 kilowatt electric drive allows the car to produce 69 g CO2/km while achieving a consumption of 33 km/L. On an all-electric driving, the car delivers an emission-free driving for about 30 km.

Along with the S 400 Hybrid and S300 BlueTEC, the S500 uses the second-generation hybrid drive system that has been integrated to the powertrain where the combustion engine can be completely decoupled from the electric motor. The hybrid models also include the second-generation recuperative braking system and anticipatory Intelligent HYBRID energy management system.

Despite similarities, the new high-voltage lithium-ion battery of the S 500 has ten times the energy content and can be recharged from an external source using the charging socket on the right side of the rear bumper.

The model has four hybrid operating modes: hybrid, e-mode that runs on electric power only, e-save that reserves the battery for use of electric power later, and charge that charges the battery during driving. Also, the power delivery does not sacrifice passenger comfort with the inclusion of the pre-entry climate control function.

The new Mercedes-Benz S 500 Plug-In Hybrid will be launched in the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show this September. The market launch will follow suit next year.