New Mercedes S-Class Plug-in Hybrid to debut at Frankfurt Motor Show

A plug-in hybrid version of the new Mercedes S-Class is expected to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, offering 90mpg and sub-75g/km emissions.

We’ve known Mercedes were planning a plug-in hybrid version of the new S-Class as far back as 2009, and it now appears it will debut – as a 2014 model – at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

When Mercedes revealed the Vision S500 Plug-in Hybrid Concept at Frankfurt in 2009, they had fitted it with a V6 petrol engine mated to a 44kw motor and a bank of lithium-ion batteries, and promised the hybrid S-Class would do 90mpg, have emissions of under 75g/km and manage 18 miles in EV mode.

That means the hybrid S-Class would have performance comparable to the V8 petrol-engined S500 but attract no BIK or VED in the UK.

It seems unlikely those claims will have diminished in the intervening four years, so it looks like the S-Class Hybrid will be able to offer emission, economy and performance figures at least as good as the Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid.

What does seem clear is that the hybrid S-Class isn’t going to be a cheap option, but will probably come at a premium to the regular V8 S500 and be badged as an S500 Hybrid (despite its smaller V6 petrol engine).

That means – with the new S500 costing £88k, we could see the S500 Hybrid nudging the £100k mark.