The doomsday for the conventional engine is still at least 20-30 years out in Mercedes' eyes, however, reports Auto Motor & Sport. It won't be a sudden transition, either - the German carmaker sees it as a gradual series of steps, from today's offerings to hybrids to diesel-hybrids, such as the GLK BlueTEC hybrid (pictured), to arrangements where the combustion engine plays a decreasing role and the electric drivetrain comes to the forefront. Eventually, power, performance and range of the electric side of the system will be good enough to dispense with the combustion side entirely.
Already Mercedes-Benz is planning to be the first major carmaker to market with a lithium-ion battery-powered hybrid in the form of the S400 Hybrid - though it may be beaten by any number of smaller companies. That will mark one of the evolutionary steps in the improvement of the electric portion of the hybrid drivetrain. Following the S400 Hybrid will be the ML450 Hybrid in 2009, which will face strong competition from BMW's X6 ActiveHybrid among others.
Reader Comments
Fri Sep 12 2008 8:07 PM
NoNameDenton says
More turbo 4 cylinder and turbo V6 diesels dern it, and how about diesel hybrids
Sat Sep 13 2008 7:19 AM
HECTOR says
Much like Medusa would do I see the utter and unspeakable ugliness of that GLK has turned all of us to stone and left us speechless.
MB really does think very little of the buying public.
Sat Sep 13 2008 4:24 PM
NoNameDenton says
Wow Hector, I did not know you had been made the spokesman for the buying public.
Sun Sep 14 2008 9:54 AM
Paul Read says
Have to admit, it does look like it was drawn by a thirteen year-old.
Leave a Comment
Login or register to leave comments.
Please keep your comments on topic. Your involvement is governed by our Privacy Policy and Terms.