Mercedes-Benz will begin U.S. sales of the C350 plug-in hybrid this fall.
The new car is one of 10 plug-in hybrids Mercedes will be launching through 2017, said Thomas Weber, Daimler AG board member for group research and Mercedes-Benz car development. It has a four-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric motor for a total output of 275 hp.
“The plug-in hybrid is an investment in the future of Mercedes-Benz, and we believe it will become established as the successful technology for maximum efficiency coupled with powerful dynamic performance,” Weber said.
The C350 hybrid has a high-voltage lithium ion battery with a total capacity of 6.2 kwh. The water-cooled battery weighs 220 pounds and is mounted in a sheet-steel housing underneath the rear axle. This location helps improve crash safety, trunk space and vehicle handling, Mercedes-Benz said.
The 80-hp electric motor is mated to the gasoline engine with a displacement of just under 2.0 liters and a seven-speed automatic transmission.
The C350 plug-in hybrid can go 20 miles solely on electric power. It has a top speed of 130 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds.
