PHEVs premiere via Mercedes me

In a swift alternative programme to the now cancelled Geneva International Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG presented highlights of their product premieres, including plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) live on the media portal Mercedes me media.

The digital press conference, available as an on-demand video, focuses on the world premiere of the comprehensively updated E-Class with numerous model variants – including PHEV versions of the sedan and estate as well as the Mercedes-AMG E 53 4Matic+.

With the new PHEV models in the compact car segment, Mercedes-Benz is pushing ahead with its electrification offensive.

The CLA 250 e as coupé and ‘Shooting Brake’ (combined electrical consumption 15.5-15.1kWh/100km), and the GLA 250 e (combined electrical consumption 16.1-15.5kWh/100km) will complement the range.

There are also new engine variants with 48-volt hybrid technology and integrated starter-generator (ISG) in the E-Class. In addition to the press conference, experts explain highlights of the new E-Class in three ‘walkarounds’ shown on Mercedes me media.

The updated and upgraded E-Class will be launched in mid-2020, initially as sedan, estate and all-terrain models. Coupé and cabrio – as well as the China-exclusive long-wheelbase version of the sedan – follow soon after.

Highlights include a more dynamic design, the next generation of driver assistance systems, and a higher level of comfort and expansion of the model portfolio to include numerous electrified drive systems.

“This year, we are consistently pushing ahead with digitisation and electrification,” Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG management board chairman Ola Kallenius says.

“Our goal is to reduce CO2 emissions from our fleet by more than 20%. To achieve this, we are rolling out 48-volt technology in all model series, currently in the new E-Class. By the end of 2020, we want to double our sales of mild hybrids and quadruple the share of xEVs. Following the purely electric smart EQ, EQC and EQV models, we will present the compact EQA at the end of the year.”

Three new compact plug-in models will be added and the new E-Class will have seven PHEV variants, Kallenius says.

The compact PHEVs have a more than 70km electric range and can be charged from 10% to 80% in 25 minutes, board member responsible for group research and Mercedes-Benz Cars development, procurement and supplier quality Markus Schäfer says.

“By the end of the year, we will more than double the number of plug-in hybrids and electric models – to five all-electric vehicles and more than 20 plug-in hybrids from the A- to S-Class.

“In addition, the E-Class comes with new, electrified four-cylinder engines that set new standards in efficiency; a gasoline engine and, for the first time, a diesel with a 48-volt electrical system and integrated starter generator.

Visit Mercedes me media for more information.