Mercedes-Benz C350 Plug-in Hybrid; up to 31 km of electric range

Mercedes-Benz is charging ahead in the hybrid arena. Quite literally. In Detroit they have unveiled its second plug-in model, placed within the C-Class.

We are talking about the C350 Plug-in Hybrid, which arrives loaded with “positive energy” to offer the perfect balance between performance and ecology.

Following the launch, months ago, of the S500 Plug-in Hybrid, Mercedes continues to expand its range of plug-in hybrid vehicles, a commitment that, today, seems the most sensible on the long road towards sustainable personal mobility. In fact, Mercedes has announced that this will not be the last model of these characteristics; over the next three years it will launch as many as eight new models with Plug-in Hybrid technology. It is, therefore, a road with no return.

Focusing on the model at hand, on the outside we will find no difference compared with the “traditional” models, except for an additional cover on the rear bumper, where the people at Mercedes have placed the charging port for the batteries.
Inside, more of the same. We find a well-laid-out cabin of good quality, in which the only notable difference is the incorporation of new graphics on the central screen, as well as in the instrument cluster. In terms of space, we will only notice a slight reduction of 15 litres in boot capacity, which drops to 335 litres in the saloon and 350 litres in the estate.

The technical layout is similar to that of the S500 Plug-in Hybrid, but on a smaller scale. The combustion engine is, in this case, a 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder unit, delivering 208 CV and 350 Nm. Coupled to it through a 7G-TRONIC automatic gearbox is an electric motor which, powered by batteries that weigh an additional 100 kg and have a capacity of 6.2 kWh, delivers an additional 80 CV and 340 Nm. Overall, the C350 Plug-in Hybrid is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds, reaching a top speed of 250 km/h.

Operating in fully electric mode, this Mercedes is capable of covering up to 31 km, provided we don’t demand maximum power and don’t exceed 130 km/h. The batteries take 1:45 and 2 hours to recharge, a fairly moderate time. In hybrid mode, the Mercedes returns an impressive combined consumption of 2.1 litres per 100 km, with CO2 emissions of just 48 g per kilometre.

Source | Mercedes-Benz