(September 16, 2014) Mercedes-Benz has introduced a plug-in hybrid version of its flagship S-class sedan.  The S550 Plug-in Hybrid, Mercedes says is the first luxury sedan with the performance of a V8 and the fuel consumption of a compact model.

Mercedes says the new vehicle puts out 436 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, and goes from zero to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, to a top speed of 130 mph. It has a range of 20 miles of "completely emission-free driving," the company says, using its electric motor, which is powered by a lithium-ion battery.

Its hybrid technology is based on the company's Formula 1 race car, which like the S550 is powered by a turbocharged V6 engine and a "high-tech hybrid drive," said Mercedes' Ola Kallenius, executive vice president of sales and marketing.

The new vehicles should be in showrooms in mid-2015, the company said. Pricing on the S550 Plug-In Hybrid has not been released. But the S550 sedan has a base MSRP of $94,000.

"The S550 Plug-in Hybrid is the first luxury sedan with the performance of a V8 and the fuel consumption of a compact model. The greatest challenge in this is to translate efficiency into superior performance. In this respect there is a highly interesting parallel with our successful Formula 1 racing car, which likewise has a turbocharged V6 engine and a high-tech hybrid drive," says Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber, member of the Daimler Board of Management responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.

"The new S550 Plug-in Hybrid offers our customers the entire range of innovations that make our new S-Class so successful, and thanks to its intelligent operating strategy ensures outstanding driving pleasure and dynamism combined with the highest efficiency. Moreover, it allows completely emission-free driving for up to 20 miles," adds Ola Källenius, executive vice president sales and marketing.

The hybrid transmission is based on the 7-speed automatic transmission. The plug-in-hybrid system in the S-Class is based on the Mercedes-Benz parallel hybrid modular system.

The common system-specific feature is the additional clutch integrated between combustion engine and electric motor. On the one hand, it decouples the combustion engine during purely electric operation; on the other hand, if the combustion engine is employed it affords the possibility to move off drawing on the performance of a wet start-up clutch. The clutch then substitutes for the torque converter and requires no additional space owing to its complete integration in the torque converter housing.