Amid Dr. Z’s proclamation that 2015 would be “the Year of the SUV,” the Mercedes-Benz C350 Plug-In Hybrid was revealed prior to its official debut at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show [Live photos now available – CA].
Autoblog reports the PHEV — in sedan and estate form — can travel for up to 20 miles with only its electric motor. Said motor also helps contribute to the C350’s 250-horsepower figure when paired with the 1.9-liter turbo-four under the hood, as well as a top speed of 130 mph, and the ability to go from nil to 60 in six seconds.
Aside from regenerative braking and collision-avoidance systems, not much else was revealed, especially in regards to price and estimated fuel economy. Those details are likely to come during press days this week.
The PHEV is expected to go on sale later this year in the United States as a 2016 model.
This is a marvelous car.
It’s too bad the engine note is terrible. It would be better off completely silenced.
The way car engines are going, it’s nearing the time to buy shares in Briggs and Stratton. Who knows more about single cylinder churners thumping away? Well, ones that cost less than $11.49 to make anyway.
Cannot imagine spending $60 grand or more for a luxury car to get a turbo 4. Still, the BMW I8 has a 3 cylinder now, so in a decade’s time, the Nissan Versa will need a turboed, supercharged double overhead cam one-lunger to complement its 20hp electric whirrer. Briggs research labs are currently working overtime to move the valves from the side to overhead. Next step, fuel injection! It’s a race against time and CAFE.
Maybe they should have named it Mercedes California…Or the Mercedes CARB.
They can’t even get their MBTex seats to not bleed: http://www.autoblog.com/2015/01/07/mercedes-c-class-owners-bleeding-seat-problem/ so I’m going to hold off on trusting them to be able to make a reliable PHEV. Apparently the new C class is having tons of issues, the ridiculous leaking seats being the most obvious.
With only like 2500 HEVs in circulation, odds are in their favor for bolting one together properly from the start.