When the W222, sixth-gen Mercedes S-Class came to the market in 2013, it sat in a niche that was completely void of any real competition. But, after just a few years that changed, with long-time rival BMW introducing the new 7 Series and GM’s luxury division, Cadillac, introducing the full-size CT6 to the market. The S-Class was already competitive enough to hold its own in the full-size luxury segment and was even praised for its superior ride quality, seemingly effortless acceleration, and all of that fancy tech that brought it one step closer to being a true-to-life spaceship on wheels. With the new E-Class coming before this mid-cycle update, Merc had a lot of new tech on its hands, and you certainly can’t have a lesser model sporting better features, so this was the icing on the cake and triggered Mercedes to revamp the S-Class in time for 2018. Now that we’re approaching the holiday season and the new year, Mercedes saw fit to introduce the newest member of the S-Class family: The S 560 e – a plug-in hybrid that promises to be a huge improvement over the outgoing model.

So, now that we’re looking at the facelifted S-Class hybrid, it’s important to note that it also comes with a new name. Previously known as the S550 Plug-in Hybrid, the 2018 model will now go by the nomenclature of S560 e Plug-in Hybrid. Highlights of the facelifted model include an increase in system output of more than 50 horsepower, increased all-electric range thanks to a revised battery, relocated electric components, and increased luggage room in the rear. An ECO assist feature will help you drive more efficiently, while pre-entry climate control will have the temperature just right before you even sit down inside the vehicle. I guess that’s pretty commendable and right in line with what you should expect for a car of this stature. With that said, let’s take a closer look at what kind of improvements the revised hybrid brings to the market. Something tells me, you might want to consider trading in that old plug-in for a new one, but we’ll see.

It’s Funny How Little Things Can Add Up

First, let’s talk about that ECO Assist system. Basically, the system monitors the road and situation ahead and runs constant simulations to determine if you should allow the car to coast freely or decelerate for energy recuperation. The accelerator pedal provides haptic feedback on a variable level, which should allow you to know when you’re running at maximum all-electric power, as such a little extra nudge will cause the gasoline engine to fire up and you’ll get more juice to get up to speed. A double pulse in the accelerator, for instance, will alert you that you should take your foot off the pedal and coast. If you do so, the engine will shut off and be completely decoupled from the transmission. This is accompanied by a visual prompt in the instrument cluster or the head-up display if equipped. And, in case you’re thinking there’s no way this type of thing can be more economical or make a difference, there’s a display that shows how many miles you’ve cruised in all-electric mode, which ultimately means decreased fuel usage and increased electric range. Not a bad way to convince you that the system is worth listening to, huh? Of course, I’m here thinking about how much that haptic feedback pedal will cost if it fails, but hey, I’m also a mechanic, so it’s natural ;)

As the eighth plug-in hybrid in Mercedes lineup, next to vehicles like the C 350 e, GLE 500 e, and the E 350 e, the S560 also brings some extra power output and range to the table as well. This model makes use of a V-6 gasoline engine that’s good for 367 horsepower. Of course, you’re probably thinking that’s way less than the total output of the old S-Class Hybrid, and you’d be right, but that’s where the new electric motor comes in. Rated at 90 kW, or roughly 120 horsepower, total system output is really more like 487 horsepower, which accounts for a 51-pony increase over the old S550 Plug-in. Engine torque is still a mystery at this point, but the electric motor alone generates 440 nm or 324.52 pound-feet. So, we’re looking at as much as 550 pound-feet of torque from the system combined – that’ll certainly that do it for you, right?

Here’s the interesting thing about the S 560 e, though. See while its battery back is actually the same size physically, Mercedes has converted over to a lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt (Li-NMC) battery chemistry as opposed to the old lithium, iron, and phosphate battery cells. That means it was able to increase the quality and capacity of the cells without an increase in size. That increase accounts for an increased capacity of 13.5 kWh and 15 Ah – that’s pretty impressive, and even more importantly, it's built by Destusche Accumotive, a subsidiary of Daimler. With the battery offering an increased capacity, the all-electric range has increased to somewhere around 50 km or 31 miles, an improvement of 11 miles over the S 550 Plug-in. Shifting duties are handled by the third-gen hybrid transmission that is based on the 9G-TRONIC PLUS, which includes the torque converter, motor, and clutch required for hybrid coupling and decoupling on demand.

Mercedes S450

Mercedes S560

Mercedes S560 e

Engine

3.0-liter V6 biturbo

4.0-liter V8

3.0-liter V-6

Horsepower

362 HP

463 HP

487 HP (est)

Torque

369 LB-FT

516 LB-FT

550 LB-FT (est)


And, before I forget, that pre-entry climate system… that works thanks to the electric A/C compressor and electric heating elements. That’s right – no more belt-drive compressor or coolant-control heater system for you. As such, if you program a trip with a set departure time, the car will automatically engage the climate control before you even walk out the door in order to bring the cabin temperature to exactly the way you like it. It’s an extra, unnecessary technology, really, but it’s still pretty damn cool (or warm?) if you ask me.

With all of that said, I would like to point out that the new S 560 e will get all of the goodies that are found inside other S-Class models for 2018. This includes a new steering wheel with touch-sensitive buttons, new upholstery combinations, a 12.3-inch infotainment display to go with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster ahead of the steering wheel. The LED interior lights can be had in 64 different colors, and the Drive Pilot system can be had as well, allowing easy driving on the highway at speeds of up to 130 mph while braking, accelerating, and steering as needed all on its own as it follows the vehicle in front of you.

So, there you have it. The new S-Class Hybrid is here. Will it be worth trading in your old model for the new one? Well, that really depends on what you do with your S-Class. If you have a short trip to work each day, but can’t quite make it there on electric power alone, those extra 11 miles of all-electric range might help and could certainly add up to some pretty serious fuel savings over time. Pricing for the S 560 e has yet to be released, but with the non-hybrid S 560 going for $102,900, expect to pay more like $110,000 at least for the S 560 e. That would account for a near $15,000 increase over the 2016 S550 Plug-in which carried a starting MSRP of $95,650 at last check. And, that does it for me this time around, folks. Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

References

Read our full review of the 2018 Mercedes S-Class

Read all of the latest news from Mercedes