Author:
ROBIN ROBERTS
Energy and efficiency sit side by side in the new Mercedes-Benz E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID.
To prove you can have both exhilarating performance and economy without effort, Mercedes-Benz gave one of their new cars to a rally driver. But instead of pure speed Mick Linford opted for a smooth driving style and a somewhat long test, over 830-miles in fact.
Now he couldn’t forget his performance pedigree so Mick started, as you do, at Newquay Cornwall Aiport where he got the measure of the monster under his right foot on the main runway and pushed it to 136mph, passing 60mph in seven seconds.
From the most southerly airport on mainland Britain, he then headed to the most northerly, 830 miles away at Wick, where he faced a shorter runway and managed just 120mph terminal speed before hitting the brakes and avoiding dropping off the edge of Scotland.
Sticking to the varying national speed limits and with a sealed fuel tank, Mick averaged 67.3mpg between the two locations, and found he had enough fuel left for a further 270 miles, which gave the car a theoretical range of 1,100 miles. With non-theoretical CO2 emissions of 109g/km, the Mercedes E 300 Hybrid has a company car tax band of just 12% for the tax year 2012/13.
This achievement was made possible through a hybrid system linked to the efficient four-cylinder diesel engine – an electric motor is mounted within the 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission.
The gearbox substitutes a torque converter for a wet clutch system, therefore allowing the internal combustion engine to be disengaged entirely via the clutch and for electric-only drive to be maintained for short periods, boosting economy. The system is intricately packaged within the vehicle not to impact on the load capacity of the E-Class in any way.
The new E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID produces 204 hp and 500 Nm of torque and prices start at £39,645.00 for the saloon and £41,435.00 for the estate.
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