Treehugger takes the new hybrid Mercedes for a spin – with mixed results.
I’m still buzzing from the Frankfurt auto show. With its many visual delights, the IAA is arguably the most important gathering of automakers in the world. Much of my focus centered around Mercedes-Benz (after all, Daimler AG was my host), and I’m still sorting through all there is to say about this company as it becomes a more and more important contender in the green car battle. Mercedes is now moving into the luxury hybrid market, a space that has been decidedly Lexus’ up till now. While the S 400 hybrid has been a fast seller in Europe (accounting for almost 20% of S-Class orders since June), it has only just rolled into US dealerships. I test drove the S 400 on roads winding through cabbage and pumpkin farms outside Mercedes’ home of Stuttgart, getting a good feel for this new luxury hybrid offering. – From TreeHugger