In today's internet rumor mill, word is circulating that Mercedes-Benz may be doing the inevitable; making the S-Class available only as a hybrid vehicle. With one exception, of course: the AMG cars will remain gas guzzlers.
Is this a certain suicide or an ingenious move?
On one hand you have to think that many of the luxo-barge owners adore their large motors that zip them in and out of the big cities, but then again it seems that in recent years that the large motors have become a bit excessive. Do you really need an S-Class with nearly 400-horsepower and hitting 60 MPH under five and a half seconds? You have to ask yourself that.
Then, on the more reasonable side, the S400 puts out nearly 300-horsepower and nearly 285 lb-ft of torque while achieving 23 MPG, real-world. Assuming you can get an S550 to obtain 14 MPG city, this is about 60 percent more efficient. Oh-kay, so you get to 60 MPH in a tick over 7 seconds. It is not a lightning quick car but it is far from sluggish.
And when you consider that most of the S-Class buyers are in metropolitan areas, which may induce congestion charges in a few years, it would be nice to have a hybrid so you can skirt on by without worrying about the proposed fees.
What say you, Spies?
Genius or is death knocking on the S-Class' door?
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