JOINING THE B-Class F-CELL and BlueZERO concepts at Frankfurt this month will be yet another Mercedes-Benz hybrid: the Vision S500 Plug-In Hybrid.

Based on the S-Class sedan and featuring technology similar to that found in the production S400 BlueHYBRID revealed last year, Mercedes claims the S500 Plug-In Hybrid returns a fuel economy of just 3.2 l/100km.

“The Vision S500 Plug-In Hybrid is a new milestone on our path toward zero-emission mobility,” Mercedes-Benz chief Dr Dieter Zetsche said.

It is a luxurious and safe S-Class vehicle that offers superior driving performance while at the same time consuming less fuel than current compacts.

All of this shows that our top models will also be able to combine automotive fascination with responsibility for the environment.”

Like many hybrids, the S500 Plug-In Hybrid’s 45kW electric motor offers the ability to drive on electric power alone, travelling up to 30 kilometres on one charge of its 10kWh lithium-ion battery.

When the battery’s charge is depleted, the conventional petrol engine (Mercedes has not offered details for this engine) will kick in.

Used together, Mercedes-Benz says the electric motor and petrol engine will propel the big sedan to 60mph (96km/h) in under 5.5 seconds.

Mercedes-Benz is keeping its cards close to its chest on the finer technical details, but all will be revealed at Frankfurt next week.

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