A spokesperson for Mercedes-Benz has confirmed the company is putting the final touches on a plug-in hybrid variant of the new 2015 C-Class.
Official technical details have not been published yet but sources indicate the plug-in hybrid C-Class will primarily be powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 211 horsepower and 258 lb-ft. of torque. The four-banger will work in conjunction with a 68-horsepower electric motor that will draw electricity from a compact lithium-ion battery pack.
With the two power sources up and running, the plug-in hybrid C could return up to 117 mpg in a mixed cycle. The sedan will be able to travel on electricity alone for up to 18 miles, though Chinese-spec models will likely boast an emissions-free range of over 30 miles in order to qualify for the miscellaneous tax breaks and cash incentives given by the nation’s government to consumers who buy a clean car.
Drivetrain aside, the plug-in C will be nearly identical to its gasoline-burning counterpart inside and out save for minor components like a model-specific instrument cluster.
The plug-in hybrid C-Class could be presented at next year’s edition of the Geneva Motor Show and go on sale across Europe and in China next summer. Mercedes has not revealed whether or not the fuel-sipping drivetrain will be offered in the United States.
What’s Next?
Mercedes already offers a diesel-electric version of the C-Class in Europe (pictured). Before introducing the plug-in hybrid version, the Stuttgart-based automaker will launch a plug-in variant of the S-Class flagship at the Paris Motor Show next October. Details are being kept under wraps until the car’s debut, but Mercedes has hinted in the past its first-ever regular-production plug-in hybrid will be added to its lineup in North America.
Photos by Ronan Glon.
Leave a Reply