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The new 12% company car tax E-Class

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Mercedes E-Class hybrid: 12% company car tax

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16 February 2011

New diesel-hybrid Mercedes-Benz E-Class launched

The new Mercedes-Benz E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID offers business users 65mpg and 12% company car tax
Mercedes E-Class hybrid: 12% company car tax

THIS has to be on the radar of any self-respecting director of an SME firm: the new Mercedes E-Class hybrid.

Now, of course, the E-Class is probably always on the business car buying list of any SME director, but this one is the version you’ll be heading for: the new Mercedes-Benz E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID.

Mercedes calls it the world’s most economical luxury car.

You can understand why: there’s 65mpg on offer and CO2 emissions of just 109g/km.

Yes, rub your eyes.

That’s 109g/km CO2, which means the new Mercedes E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID qualifies for 100% first year writing down allowances.

Not only that, but the new Mercedes E-Class hybrid qualifies for benefit in kind company car tax at the rate of 12% – with no additional 3% diesel penalty.

(If you want to know why there’s no 3% surcharge on diesel hybrids, see our news story Yeeha! HMRC says diesel hybrids are exempt from 3% company car tax surcharge.)

Mercedes wheeled out the E300 BlueTEC HYBRID at the Detroit Motor Show, where they showed two versions: one for Europe and one for America and Asian markets.

The European version pairs the 198bhp 2.2-litre diesel engine of the E250 CDI with a 27bhp electric motor. Together they deliver more than 550lb ft of torque, ensuring similar performance to the V6-engined E300 diesel, but with 35% better fuel economy. Emissions of CO2 are only 109g/km…a point which will not be lost on business drivers.

The other model is badged the E400 hybrid and uses the same electrical drive system found in the European car, but in this case linked to a 298bhp 3.5-litre petrol engine.

The electric part of the powertrain allows most low-speed manoeuvres to be carried out on battery power alone. The motor also carries out the first phase of acceleration from standstill unaided, and assists the internal combustion engine for overtaking or hill-climbing.

There is an engine stop-start system and brake energy recovery, plus a ‘sailing’ mode which de-couples the diesel or petrol engine on demand and maintains a set speed until the battery is exhausted.

The hybrid system is a development of that in the S400. The power electronics are housed under the bonnet while the battery is mounted under the boot floor. As a result, there is minimal disruption to the passenger and luggage space of a standard Mercedes E-Class.

Mercedes says the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID will be available as both a saloon and an estate.

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Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton is an award-winning journalist and the founder of Business Car Manager (now renamed Business Motoring). Ralph writes extensively about the car and van leasing industry as well as wider fleet and company car issues. A former editor of What Car?, Ralph is a vastly experienced writer and editor and has been writing about the automotive sector for over 35 years.

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