HYBRIDS

German relatives

Despite their collaboration in developing petrol/electric hybrid technologies, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are taking a slightly different approach with their first samples

Background

S400 outperforms the diesel S320.

While the Japanese have usually been criticised as copy-cats when it comes to new technological offerings, Toyota has been first with its petrol/electric hybrid tech. Now the Western camp is following suit after Lexus triggered the hybrid trend.

However, in order to gain as much as possible on economies-of-scale, carmakers have joined hands in development - even among the most bitter of rivals. BMW, Mercedes-Benz and General Motors have formed an alliance, while another brings together Audi, Volkswagen and Porsche.

The most significant update seen in this hybrid race is the use of lithium-ion batteries which are claimed to offer higher energy density and electric efficiency, plus lower weight and more compact size than nickel-metal hydride type that's still used in Lexus's LS600h, GS450h and RX400h.

Pioneering LS600h is not alone anymore.

The latter group - Audi, VW, Porsche - has yet to reveal production-ready hybrids, although several concepts have already been shown. BMW and Mercedes took their first shots at this week's Paris Motor Show with high-margin products to minimise costs indentions as much as possible before moving down to those with bigger volume.

Expect other high-end brands to gain access to hybrid technology in the future: Rolls-Royce through owner BMW, Bentley stopping at proprietor VW Group and Aston Martin by way of a rumoured cooperation in engine development with Mercedes.

Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHYBRID

After showcasing several concepts with hybrid technology in the S, E and ML classes, Mercedes will become the first European brand to offer it in showroom form. The S400 goes on sale in mid-2009.

Based on the S350, the 279hp 3.5-litre V6 is coupled to an electric motor to produce a combined 299hp and 385Nm. Mercedes claims a 7.2sec time to 100kph and 250kph top speed.

The S400 is now the cleanest S in the model range: 12.7kpl average fuel economy and 190g/km of carbon dioxide emissions, opposed to the S320 CDI's 11.8kpl and 225g/km tally (Blue Efficiency model has 13.2kpl and 199g/km figures).

BMW 7-series Active Hybrid

7-series eyes high-performance LS600.

BMW's alternative would come into the market after Mercedes's since the fifth-generation 7-series (as driven for the first time on the right side of this page) only made its debut in Paris yesterday. Other models that have already previewed hybrid tech in concept forms are the X5 and X6.

Not much detail has been released for the 7-series hybrid. The reason for this teaser could be to counter the S400's launch, also in Paris.

All that's known, though, is that the 7-series hybrid is based on the 750i in which electricity complements the 407hp 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 to yield a combined 427hp.

BMW says fuel economy is 15% better than in the normal 750i which translates into 9.9kpl for the 7-series hybrid.

This figure isn't comparable to the S400's since BMW has chosen to launch hybrid power from the top of the range probably for image purposes. Mercedes, on the contrary, is starting from the bottom.

This means that BMW wants to slug it out with Lexus. The LS600h's 5.0-litre V8 and electric motor produces a combined 445hp but with a lower fuel consumption of 10.8kpl.

Lexus claims a 6.3sec 0-100kph time, a feat also likely to be achieved by BMW which hasn't revealed any performance figure yet.

Thai sales prospects

Despite the new-found levels of performance and reduced emissions, high-end hybrids can't come to Thai shores at reasonable prices. The LS600h, for instance, will cost some B16m if it was to be officially sold, which it isn't and can only be fetched in the grey market.

In spite of the 10% excise tax given to hybrids, cars can only enjoy this privilege if their conventionally fuelled engines don't exceed 3,000cc. This also goes for those built in the country.

Conversely, Lexus can take advantage of the Thai-Japanese FTA in which cars over 3,000cc can enjoy 70% import tax, opposed to the normal 80% rate.

So despite their technological marvels, the S400 and 7-series hybrids will only come - if their importers decide so - as image-builders for buyers needing to make a statement.

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