Mercedes-Benz late 2009 ML Sports Utility hybrid release
Besides the S400 blue hybrid Benz, Mercedes is also releasing the much anticipated ML450 hybrid which is slated for sale in late 2009. It is a collaboration of five major companies, namely Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, Daimler, Chrysler and BMW. This is the latest expansion in the ML Sports Utility Line. The ML range now becomes the first vehicle in the world to offer gasoline, diesel and hybrid alternatives! This Benz is equipped with amazing eco-friendly features which include liquid coolants that ensure that the cells operate at full efficiency and that its pack remains healthy. No hassles about overheating of the car as whenever the electrical system is under stress, a “super chiller” is used to blast the pack with coolant. This means that even in scorching heat you can tow a trailer quite easily.
There is also an advantage over its previous counterpart namely that it produces over 90% of the power generated by the V8 model but it consumes almost 50% less fuel than the ML 550 does. The estimate from EPA is 24 miles per gallon on the highway and 21 miles per gallon in the city. The Atkinson cycle is used to power the engine and it generates 275 horsepower by itself.
The pricing will be released when it goes on sale. Since, Mercedes has a better reputation; it is definitely going to be more expensive than the mass-market GMC Yukon Twins/Chevy Tahoe’s. Those who favor eight-speed automatic transmissions are lucky because a “Shift” mode has been developed to simulate the behavior of this type of engine. But, there is a slight disadvantage as this imposes a three percent penalty on the fuel economy according to reports from a hybrid engineer at Mercedes.
The release of two hybrid models is a calculated move to ensure that Mercedes doesn’t suffer when the new gas regulations come into effect as that might cause their traditional models to suffer a decline in demand. This new venture for Mercedes and co. should be a fascinating one to see as to how they fare in competition against the conventional oil guzzlers. Whether wealthy customers of Mercedes see a benefit in buying cars with a lesser consumption of mileage depend a lot upon the price of the new Mercedes.
Be prepared for an exciting year of competition in the year 2010.The launch of the first ML450 hybrid is round the corner and it is likely to beat the BMW X6 Active hybrids in getting to the market first.
