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Marton Pettendy14 Jan 2015
NEWS

Mercedes developing plug-in diesel tech

Benz confirms PHEV versions of C-Class Estate and new E-Class sedan and wagon, plus GLE and GLC – but not SUV 'coupes' or sports cars
Mercedes-Benz has confirmed it is developing diesel-electric plug-in hybrid technology to complement the petrol PHEV powertrains already revealed for the C-Class and S-Class.
Both plug-in models are under consideration for Australia and, while the S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID teams a twin-turbo 3.0-litre petrol V6 with an electric motor to consume just 2.8L/100km, the C-Class PLUG-IN HYBRID sedan combines a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with electric power to sip as little as 2.1L/100km.
Likewise, Merc's diesel PHEV powertrain is expected to match electric motors with oil-burning 2.1-litre four-cylinder and 3.0-litre V6 engines.
"We started with petrol-electric because petrol is a world fuel; diesel is not a focus in the US," said Daimler R&D chief Thomas Weber at the Detroit show.
"But, yes, I can confirm we will combine this [plug-in] technology with diesel."
At the same trim, Weber confirmed that Mercedes' mainstream passenger car line-up from the C-Class upwards will become available with PHEV technology – including the upcoming next-generation E-Class.
"We started with S-Class and now C-Class and shortly in time a new E-class will come to the market," he said. "Yes of course the E-Class will be contained with the plug-in hybrid because all cars above C-Class will be prepared for plug-in hybrid."
Mercedes has committed to having 10 PHEV models on sale by the end of 2017 and yesterday confirmed the next model to receive its PHEV treatment will be the facelifted M-Class, which will emerge with a new name (GLE) and plug-in capability at the New York show in April.
Also last night, Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche said PHEV versions of both the GLA and GLC were also in development, while Mercedes-Benz sales and marketing chief Ola Kallenius confirmed that plug-in GLC and GLS models will be revealed later this year.
Speaking at the motor show today, Prof Weber confirmed PHEV tech for its most popular wagons – most likely the C-Class and E-Class Estates – but ruled it out for sports models including the GLE Coupe.
That means that within three years there will be plug-in capability for everything from the C-Class and E-Class sedan and wagon to the S-Class, plus the mainsteam GLA, GLC, GLE and GLS SUVs.
The identity of the 10th PHEV model to be revealed by 2017 remains unknown, but Weber indicated it will be restricted to the Chinese market.
"I can confirm the former M-Class and the former GLK, the GLE and the GLC will be prepared for plug-in hybrid," he said.
"I also can confirm we will not start with a GLE Coupe [PHEV] because that's a sporty version and why the hell I should combine the most dynamic sporty version with a plug-in? It's possible but it makes no sense."
"So we will start with the GLE and the GLC. There is a station wagon in the limousines available especially in Europe. Station wagons we see as important [for PHEV] and in China there are extended versions available and of course plug-ins will play a major role in China."
Weber said Mercedes' PHEV strategy, which will not be seen in models smaller than the C-Class, was driven mainly by Europe's 95g/km fleet-average CO2 limit by 2020, but added it will bring customer benefits beyond fuel consumption.
"That's a legislation topic but we still believe on the customer side there are a lot of driving forces that help us take the customer in this direction – driving pleasure, boost functionality, going 30km or more without any emissions or noise in crowded areas.
"It's our job now to make this emotional and affordable. The challenge is to reduce cost.
"Drag coefficient is nearly optimal so the last remaining grams are the hardest. We have to prepare our fleet for optimisation steps. Plug-ins across our fleet will play a major role." 
Mercedes already sells the (non plug-in) diesel-electric C 300 and S 300 BlueTEC Hybrids in Australia, where the Audi A3 e-tron will become the nation's first plug-in luxury car in April.
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