Mercedes Introduces S400 and S600

With most of the world’s automotive attention trained on New York this week, Mercedes chose to introduce two new S-class derivations on the eve of the show... from Germany.

Choosing to shun the show, the two massive luxury behemoths complete the S-class lineup in the form of the uberlux S600 V12-powered sedan and the new S400 hybrid; the brand’s first. Boasting 510 horsepower from a familiar V12 powerplant, the S600 replaces an outgoing model that’s been missing from the lineup for a couple years.

But it’s the S400 that will garner the most attention. As the first gas-electronic hybrid from Mercedes, the S400 is powered by a 3.5L V6 driving through a seven speed automatic gearbox. Making 295 horsepower, the S400 will utilize all the typical hybrid technologies like regenerative braking. However, it will be the first series production vehicle to utilize lithium ion batteries to make the most of its ability to store energy. Combining to give the huge sedan 29 miles per gallon combined, the system’s potency has already been proven, but how well it works will have to wait until this fall for testing.