The Mercedes E300 BlueTEC diesel Hybrid has arrived in UK and European showrooms being touted as the most fuel efficient Mercedes-Benz E-Class ever.
Providing the propulsion in the E300 Hybrid is a 150 kW and 500 Nm, 2.1-litre, 4-cylinder, common-rail diesel engine paired with a 20 kW electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery pack, transmitted through the same 7G-Tronic gearbox. An EV mode allows it to travel exclusively on electric power when required, up to a speed of 30 km/h.
The E300 BlueTEC’s eco-credentials are quite something. Featuring regenerative braking, AdBlue noxious gas limiter and a ‘sailing mode’, the E300 is capable of returning 4.2 L/100km and 109 g/km of CO2 on the optional 16-inch alloy wheels, which are more eco-worthy than the standard 17-inch alloys.
That’s a highly impressive return for a luxury saloon car that still accelerates from 0 – 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds and onto a top speed of 240 km/h.
The Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTEC Hybrid is priced £6 500 (roughly R82 000) cheaper than its petrol, hybrid competitor, the BMW ActiveHybrid 5. However, it is still more than £11 000 (almost R140 000) more expensive than the already highly efficient E250 CDI upon which it is based.
Is it worth the extra outlay for a few extra km per litre of fuel? We certainly think so. Diesel hybrids are the way of the future and surprise, surprise Mercedes-Benz were one of the first to make the technology workable. Mercedes-Benz South Africa has made no mention of whether the E300 BlueTEC will be heading to South Africa in 2013.
