Merc's hybrid E-class set for launch 21 | 12 | 2011

MERCEDES IS THE latest executive car manufacturer to confirm it will launch a hybrid-powered model. Next September will see the diesel-electric Mercedes E300 BlueTec go on sale in Scotland.

Available in both saloon and estate bodystyles, the newcomer will be engineered around the most powerful version of Merc's 2.1-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine.

What will prove appealing to company car users is the fact the E300 BlueTec has a CO2 inure of just 109g/km. Significantly, the Merc's figures are 40g/km lower than BMW’s petrol-powered Active5 Hybrid.

The technology behind the new E300 sees the 201bhp diesel engine mated to a 27bhp/184lb/ft brushless electric motor sited within the gearbox housing.

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While the 0.8kWh lithium ion battery is said to provide an all-electric range of less than a mile at speeds below 35mph, pit the two together and they provide the E300 with a 0-62mph time of 7.5sec and a top speed of 150mph.

Naturally the car comes with a clutch of fuel saving measures, including stop-start, brake energy recuperation, a sailing mode and low rolling resistance tyres.

This combination, Mercedes claims, results in a combined 67.3mpg; that's an improvement of 9.6mpg on the existing E250 CDI saloon.

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Jim McGill