Scheduled to start UK deliveries in November, the S500 plug-in hybrid – the third hybrid in the S-Class line-up following the S300 BlueTEC Hybrid and S400 Hybrid variants – will be offered in long wheelbase form.

The model is powered by a V6 biturbo petrol engine producing 328bhp and an electric motor developing 114bhp, and generates a total of 436bhp and 479lb.ft of torque.

As a result, the S500 Plug-In Hybrid can return 100.9mpg, emits 65g/km of CO2, can accelerate from rest to 62mph in 5.2 seconds before reaching a limited 155mph and can travel over 20 miles on purely electrical power.

The model is also exempt from road tax, receives a 100% discount on the London Congestion Charge and qualifies for a 5% BiK rate for fleet drivers.

Unlike its predecessors, the 8.7kWh lithium-ion batteries in the S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID can be topped up using external charging devices such as fast chargers. A full charge on a typical public, three-phase power point takes around two hours.

Using Mercedes’ Comand system, the driver make the best use of the model’s electric charge and the system will also look ahead to find where energy can be recuperated, for example on downhill sections. 

The equipment specification is based on the conventional S500 L AMG Line and includes as standard 19-inch AMG alloy wheels, AMG body styling for the front and rear bumpers, LED intelligent light system, COMAND Online, noise insulating glass, leather upholstery and the front seat memory package.

Technology highlights include a tablet or smartphone-based system to allow drivers to pre-heat or pre-cool the car ahead of their arrival through the Connect me system. The system can also remotely relay information to the driver when away from the car on the charge status, the predicted range and when the next service is due.

Comfort features include the choice of seven different ambient colours in which the interior is bathed, front and rear seats that can replicate a hot stone massage as well as either heating or cooling the driver, the ability of the left rear seat to recline to 43.5 degrees, seatbelt-mounted airbags, a perfume diffuser system called Air Balance that also cleans the air entering the cabin, gently heated armrests and Magic Body Control – which uses stereo cameras to read the road ahead and iron out any imperfections through making tiny alterations to the suspension system.

First production of the car starts next month with deliveries in the UK due in late November.