Filed under: New York Auto Show, Hybrids/Alternative, SUVs, Green, Mercedes-Benz



The road to production for the Mercedes-Benz ML450 hybrid hasn't always been smooth, but now that the Germans have shown off the new SUV here at the New York Auto Show (following its early debut at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show), they'll be happy to tell you just how amazing and luxurious this SULEV people-hauler is.

The numbers start with a respectable 21 city/24 highway mpg rating. With a 3.5-liter V6 Atkinson cycle engine and a 288V NM battery pack, the ML450 hybrid can go 1.8 miles and up to 34 mph on battery power alone (take that, Toyota Prius!). The hybrid powertrain altogether has a combined output of 335 horsepower, so providing adequate power to move the giant SUV was clearly just as large a priority as fuel economy. The ML450 hybrid features Mercedes' first application of the Two-Mode hybrid powertrain it co-developed with General Motors and Chrysler - similar applications also appear in the Chevrolet Tahoe Two-Mode Hybrid, Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen Hybrids.

How does it ride? All we can say for now is, stay tuned. We're about to hop in one and see for ourselves, but in the meantime for more technical details, see Mercedes' spec sheet (page 1, 2) and the complete press release after the jump.


Gallery: New York 2009: Mercedes-Benz ML 450 Hybrid



Gallery: Mercedes-Benz ML 450 Hybrid



Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading New York: Mercedes-Benz ML 450 hybrid - Up to 34 MPH on battery alone

New York: Mercedes-Benz ML 450 hybrid - Up to 34 MPH on battery alone originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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04-09-2009 01:59 PM