Mercedes Benz wants to bring the first hybrid car on the market at the beginning of 2008 . A "mild-hybrid" variant of the S-Class will have its world debut on combination with a new directly injecting petrol engine.

Daimler Chrysler already presented the concept at the 2005 IAA Motor Show: the S 350 DIRECT HYBRID and BLUTEC HYBRID concepts. The mild hybrid works by using an electric motor to provide additional power. The new S-Class comes to fight against the 430hp Lexus LS 600L.