Mercedes-Benz has announced its second plug-in hybrid, the C 350 Plug-In Hybrid, available as a saloon and estate. It follows the introduction of the S 500 Plug-In Hybrid and is the second C-Class to combine petrol and electric power; expect it to go on sale in the summer of 2016 with prices announced closer to the launch date.
Exterior
Standard specification for the C 350 Plug-In is 'Avantgarde' with a sporty appearance, but the 'Exclusive' styling line is available too, which comes with the traditional Mercedes grille and bonnet badge. Options include static LED headlamps and the dynamic 'LED Intelligent Light System'. Note that Irish specifications have not yet been confirmed.
Interior
Inside, buyers get a free-standing touch-screen interface on top of the centre console. It is also possible to specify a head-up display to project information onto the windscreen. Standard equipment should include Pre-Entry Climate Control, which allows the interior temperature of the car to be set before starting a journey; it is even possible to activate the climate control over the internet.
Mechanicals
Power comes from a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine that develops 211hp and 350Nm of torque. This is combined with an electric motor for a combined output of 279hp and 600Nm. The motor is incorporated into the seven-speed automatic transmission in place of the torque converter, along with a clutch to disconnect the combustion engine from the driveline.
A lithium-ion battery pack, weighing about 100kg, is fitted underneath the back axle to keep the boot clear. The on-board charging system can be used with public charging points or domestic electricity supplies and maximum charging time is given as two hours. It is possible for the C-Class to run solely on electric power for up to 30 kilometres.
Vehicle dynamics can be adjusted by the driver to prioritise performance or economy. Official figures for the saloon are 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 249km/h. On the combined cycle fuel economy is 134.5mpg (2.1 litres/100km) with CO2 emissions of 48g/km.
Anything else?
The Plug-In C-Class is fitted with something called a haptic accelerator pedal, which provides feedback to the driver. This increases pedal resistance in electric mode when maximum performance is used, indicating that further pressure will turn on petrol power. When the on-board radar detects traffic ahead a double impulse signals the driver to lift off, minimising the need for braking in stop-go traffic.
Further reading