This luxury sedan can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.7 seconds, while its top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h.
Mercedes-Benz has launched a new plug-in hybrid variant of its flagship luxury sedan S-Class, S 450 e, in India. The company says that this is the biggest mid-life update of the current S-Class generation so far. Its price has been kept at Rs 2.20 crore for Launch Edition and Rs 2.38 crore (ex-showroom) for Manufaktur Edition.
Bookings have begun, while deliveries will begin in the last quarter of 2026. The new Mercedes-Benz S 450 e has a combination of 3.0-litre turbo petrol engine and electric motor. Both together produce 435 HP of power and 680 Nm of torque. The biggest feature of this luxury sedan is its electric driving capability.
It has a 22 kWh lithium-ion battery and a 120 kW electric motor, which alone generates 163 HP of power and 440 Nm of torque. According to Mercedes-Benz, the car can travel up to about 115 km (WLTP) in electric mode only, allowing everyday drives to be completed without wasting petrol.
The 3.0-litre turbo petrol engine kicks in when the battery charge is exhausted. This engine alone gives power of 326 HP and torque of 540 Nm. It is mated to a 9-speed 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox. The new S 450 e can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.7 seconds, while its top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h.
Talking about design, Mercedes-Benz has new or updated more than 2,700 parts in the S-Class. It has a new large illuminated grille, 3D chrome detailing and micro-LED headlights. The company claims that the high-beam light can now reach up to 600 meters. New taillamps with triple-star design have been provided at the rear.
The cabin features the new MB.OS architecture, which combines infotainment, connected car technology and other functions of the car on a single platform. It has MBUX Superscreen, AI based voice assistant, Google Maps navigation and new user interface. Air suspension is standard in the new S 450 e.
Rear-wheel steering is also available, which can turn up to 4.5 degrees as standard and up to 10 degrees as an option. This makes it much easier to turn the car in tight places. The suspension system can also adjust itself by anticipating poor road surface conditions with the help of cloud-based data.
This car is also special in terms of safety. For the first time in India, S-Class has been introduced with 15 airbags. Apart from this, it has been provided with Advanced Occupant Protection System, Pre-Safe Seatbelt Tensioning and many other safety features. With the new S 450 e, Mercedes-Benz now offers customers all three powertrain options in its luxury portfolio – petrol, fully electric and plug-in hybrid.
