Archives

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/European_Union_Flag.jpg Oh yes, the lithium-ion battery pack is guaranteed for the life of the car. (http://www.boston.com/cars/newsandreviews/overdrive/2009/06/luxury_hybrids_cutting_edge_or.html)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Mercedes-Benz_Logo.jpgBill Griffith - BOSTON (http://www.boston.com) - June 17, 2009

Exciting tech often happens at the top end and works its way down. Hopefully it catches on with luxury buyers so the price drops for the rest of us! --Ed.

When Honda introduced its V-6 Accord Hybrid, both the marketing folks and public were confused. Weren’t hybrids supposed to be the ultimate “Econo Box?” The Accord Hybrid was thriftier than the gasoline model, but it wasn’t a mileage miser. It was a performance car; unfortunately, only a few folks realized and appreciated that, and even fewer bought the concept.

Now we have hybrids expanding across the automotive spectrum. Besides the strictly economy versions, you’ve got SUVs (Highlander and Lexus RX 400h) trucks (Silverado and Sierra 1500) and luxury vehicles (Escalade, Lexus LS 600hL).

What’s next? How about the Mercedes-Benz S400h? If mileage is your goal, it’s predicted to get 23 city/33 highway. The price will be north of $90,000.

Over the years, Mercedes has been a leader in introducing new facets of motor-vehicle technology. Now they’re coming in along with many others. My prediction is that they’ve waiting to make sure their... http://www.boston.com/cars/newsandreviews/overdrive/2009/06/luxury_hybrids_cutting_edge_or.html

Speaking of the HAH, does anyone here still have one, hypermile to get 30+ mpg, and enjoy occasional great passing power?

I still think this is a nice car and think twice about them when I see them in the used car market.

nf

I see it starting in two niches, with the first one being slightly larger than the second:

Those that really care about getting FE.

Those that want one more luxury upgrade thay can claim.

The second niche makes more money per vehicle for the auto makers, so they tend to start there.

Mercedes have this thing of working from the top and trickling it down. It'll start off in the S-class and they'll keep it there for an iteration or two of the vehicle then start to move it into the other models they produce.

$90,000 for a luxury hybrid? No thanks mate, Give me a Prius, Lexus or hell, even a Ford Fusion Hybrid any day over that! At least with the Prius or Lexus you know you don't have to constantly haul it into a Mercedes dealership because "yet another thing" has bloody broke on them.

Only way I'd pay $90,000 for a luxury car is if it could make my my lattes and martinis whilst I'm on the road, perform sexual favors on me and have an MPG so impressive that it rapes the Prius.

Taliesin hit the nail right on the head, the people who will buy this is the high level corporate mugs, or other fancy rich pants who want just one more bragging right, "Oh yeah? Well mine is a hybrid!" Like people who can afford a 90 grand car give a crapola about their MPG...

Hi Sean:

___The S400 is going to disappoint almost guaranteed. Straight up IMA capability added to a monster heavy mid-sized sedan. And price it at $90K? They will sell 4 and call it a failure.

___Noflash, the AH was worth almost 50 mpg for the week I drove one (a bit less than my I4) and had nothing to add but lack of a sunroof (on the early models), a loss of rear pass through and trunk space, a rumbling ICE in VCM even with the anti-sound system working its best to remove it and more power which is about as useless as **** on a bull given the 160 + available from the I4. Insult to injury was the almost $8,000 more $'s to boot. Yeah, it was doomed from the start. Consider an 006 or 07 at $32 to $33K with NAVI vs. a 2010 HS 250h for $37K with a lot more potential, refinement, FE and luxury... The AH was a larger vehicle than the HS by ~ 9 cu. ft. occupant capacity but the HS is so slick and smooth by comparison... .

___The Lexus HS 250h however might have a go at it if Lexus keeps its price down. That vehicle offers top notch luxury, reasonable performance (0 to 60 in 8.4) to satisfy 98% of the driving public's needs, is more fuel efficient than the Jetta TDI by 1 mpg and only 1 mpg off the Smart Fortwo in terms of EPA combined and will be solidly reliable. In other words, it is not a wannabe fuel miser like the AH but a full blown fuel miser with all the bells and whistles. If gasoline reaches $4.00 + next year, the HS 250h could be the first true luxury success. The RXh is barely holding its own and the price is its problem. The GSh and LSh... We can forget about them as they are way overpriced.

___I guess I had better say this here... If I had to choose between a 335d and an HS 250h as my everyday vehicle, the HS would be sitting in my drive. Only if I had a 100% all-highway wide open drive would I even consider owning a $50K BMW 3.0L diesel no matter how excellent its handling and performance was.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Hi All:

___Breaking away from the topic at hand... That Yaris w/ HSD keeps hitting me in the back of my head with the possibilities of some very serious FE for a price the average consumer can actually afford. It will not be nearly as refined as a Prius of course given the current Yaris is about as bottom of the basement as it gets but if HSD-II or an updated -III with a lightweight Li-Ion was attached to the European 1.33? Good god it would be an FE monster!

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Wayne, I agree with you. The one hope I have is that it will help drive down the cost of lithium batteries for automotive use.

Hi Sean:

__The Lexus HS 250h however might have a go at it if Lexus keeps its price down. That vehicle offers top notch luxury, reasonable performance (0 to 60 in 8.4) to satisfy 98% of the driving public's needs, is more fuel efficient than the Jetta TDI by 1 mpg and only 1 mpg off the Smart Fortwo in terms of EPA combined and will be solidly reliable. In other words, it is not a wannabe fuel miser like the AH but a full blown fuel miser with all the bells and whistles. If gasoline reaches $4.00 + next year, the HS 250h could be the first true luxury success. The RXh is barely holding its own and the price is its problem. The GSh and LSh... We can forget about them as they are way overpriced.

___I guess I had better say this here... If I had to choose between a 335d and an HS 250h as my everyday vehicle, the HS would be sitting in my drive. Only if I had a 100% all-highway wide open drive would I even consider owning a $50K BMW 3.0L diesel no matter how excellent its handling and performance was.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

The Lexus HS 250h looks like a Prius. For my money, I'd rather get a Prius and have some money left over for a PS3 and a few games. I think most people go for the BMW over the Lexus.

Yaris with HSD would be pretty sweet. I'm guessing that it'll be a small engine, probably the current 1.5L using CVT to keep the cost and weight down. And if they really can keep the weight down as much as possible, the Yaris in the hands of the skilled folks here should do pretty darn well indeed! Although the Toyota iQ and AYGO would be super super sweet with HSD. The AYGO is only 1764lbs so that would be pretty nice, especially since it already hits 62.8 mpgUK

I'll take my used Insight and the Echo for $13300 total, and better mileage than any of them.

646 miles on 9 gallons., works just fine for me. The Echo can reduce the yearly mileage accumulation on the Insight, as well as carry 3 passengers if necessary.

Looks like the battery in the Mercedes is just another form of launch assist anyway, and for 90 grand they can afford to gaurantee it for life, because you are paying for 3 up front.

The German makes quality has fallen off badly in the last 15 years, especially electronics.

regards
gary

Hi Jhu:

___Good Point.

___Gary, there was a reason that even in its best year the Insight only sold 4,000 units.

___If you consider what is available today, the vehicles are far superior in a number of ways vs. the super fuel misers of 5 + years ago... The Lexus HS would take down an Echo except with the most advanced hypermiling employed through a MT. Although I love the Insight and would drive one in a heartbeat, I would not let my wife or parents drive one today due to the lack of safety equipment let alone comfort and amenities vs. the Prius-III. The Insight w/ a CVT can be bested by a Prius-III for most of course while an HS 250h is a fully loaded wealthy individual’s vehicle.

___Good Luck

___Wayne