Mercedes has taken the wraps off its all-new S-Class luxury saloon, the seventh-generation version of its technologically advanced flagship. Powered by a range of mild-hybrid options from launch and offered in two wheelbase lengths, the S-Class will go on sale in December 2020 – followed by a plug-in hybrid version in 2021.

Powering the S500 is a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six producing 429 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque while the S580 utilizes a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 rated at 496 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. Both powertrains are paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and feature a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. However, it turns out a third S-Class model has stealthily debuted for the European market sporting a more powerful and more efficient plug-in hybrid powertrain.

Like the S500, the S580e plug-in hybrid S-Class has a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder gasoline engine. Increasing the power output and improving the efficiency is a 28kWh battery pack and a gearbox-mounted electric motor producing a combined output of 510 horsepower, making it 81 hp more powerful than the S500 and 41 hp more powerful than the S580.

The plug-in hybrid powertrain will also provide an electric driving range of 62 miles on a single charge. This is based on the European WLTP cycle, so the EPA rating will likely be lower. Even so, it still has double the range of the previous S650e based on the WLTP rating.

So far, the Mercedes-Benz S580e has only been confirmed for Europe where it will launch version, but it seems likely it will also be available in the US since the last-generation Mercedes S-Class Hybrid S560e was sold in America. Curiously, official photos of the S580 were released by Mercedes-Benz USA, even though the plug-in hybrid S-Class hasn't been announced for the US market yet. Perhaps the official announcement is right around the corner.
In the US, the 2021 Mercedes S-Class will go on sale in the first half of 2021, but pricing details haven't been announced yet. If it goes on sale in the US, expect the plug-in hybrid variant to have a higher price tag than the entry-level S500 and standard S580.

#Mercedes #2021_S_Class #new_S580e

"AD1CAR" Automotive videos and latest car news
SUBSCRIBE NOW https://bit.ly/2DGp9xr