Luxury car company Mercedes-Benz Japan has revealed a hybrid version of its flagship S-Class sedans called the Hybrid Long -- the first import hybrid to hit Japan.The sedan, with a 3.5-liter engine and a sticker price of 14.05 million yen (151,000 U$ / 105,000€), looks to compete with Toyota's luxury hybrid offering, the Lexus LS 600hL, which features both a larger engine, at 5.0 liters, and a heftier 15.1 million yen (162,000 U$ / 113,200€) price tag. Fellow German luxury carmaker BMW also plans to enter the high-class, low-emission market in summer 2010 with a hybrid version of its 7-series sedan. The new models are looking to lure wealthy buyers to a domestic market niche opened up by the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight hybrid sedans.
With two luxury hybrids already on the market, and a third on the horizon, the battle to dominate the eco-friendly luxury market looks to become a fierce one. The Hybrid Long S-Class sedans will come equipped with an electric motor and a small lithium-ion battery, which used in conjunction with the car's regular gasoline engine will bring fuel consumption to around 11.2 kilometers per liter (26.3 mpg) -- about a 30% improvement over the non-hybrid model. The improved fuel efficiency will make the hybrid S-Class the first mass-market import vehicle to qualify for Japanese "eco car" tax breaks.
By using small but high-capacity lithium-ion batteries, Mercedes was able to fit the hybrid system into the existing S-Class body without compromising interior or trunk space. Mercedes-Benz Japan President Hans Tempel emphasized that the company had introduced a vehicle that was both environmentally friendly and still felt in every way a luxury car. Mercedes-Benz also revealed it is currently considering increasing its hybrid offerings.
Source : The Mainichi Daily, September 7th, 2009
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