Mercedes will launch what may be a crucial model in preserving the public image of diesel power at the Frankfurt motor show. It's the new GLE 350 de plug-in diesel hybrid, and it's boasting some pretty impressive figures.
CO2 emissions of just 29g/km
CO2 emissions of just 29g/km are pretty good (albeit only around what you'd expect from a good plug-in hybrid these days) while combined fuel economy of just 1.1 litres per 100km (that's a whopping 256mpg) is amazing, assuming that it can ever be replicated under real-world conditions.
Most impressive of all, though, is that it can go for a claimed 106km on a full charge of its batteries, which makes it by far the most versatile plug-in hybrid yet launched. Now, that claim needs to be qualified somewhat. For a start, it's a measurement taken on the old NEDC economy test, so it'll probably work out at much less than that in real-world conditions, although the stricter WLTP test suggests that between 90-99km should be achievable.
Secondly, that impressive range is thanks to the GLE using a massive battery pack, a 31.2kWh stack that's almost as large as that used by some electric-only vehicles, which means you're going to be hauling around a lot of weight when you're running the GLE 350 de as a hybrid.
Big battery doesn't mean small boot
Mind you, Mercedes says that it's been able to integrate even a battery that big with very few compromises. The whole rear end of the car has been redesigned, and although luggage space is a little impeded, there's no step in the boot floor, and total available space still reaches a very impressive 1,915 litres.
It can be quickly recharged too. Mercedes claims that if you plug it into a DC fast charger, it can top up that battery to 100 per cent in just 30 minutes (although you'll have to deal with the withering stares of battery electric car drivers, queuing for the charging point behind you...).
Total system output of the GLE 350 de is 320hp, with 700Nm of torque. That's thanks to using the standard GLE 300 d's 194hp 2.0-litre diesel engine as the internal combustion unit. Top speed when running on just the batteries of 160km/h, and it'll accelerate to 100km/h from rest in 6.8 seconds. Impressively, it also maintains the 3,500kg max towing weight of the standard GLE.
GLC gets a plug-in hybrid model too
Alongside the GLE plug-in, Mercedes will also launch its smaller GLC petrol plug-in hybrid SUV at Frankfurt. The GLC 300 e uses a 211hp 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, matched to a 90kW electric motor and a 13.5kWh battery stack. Charge that fully and you should be able to run for between 39km and 43km on just the battery, according to the WLTP test.
Fuel consumption is rated at 2.2 litres per 100km (that's 128mpg) and it'll run at speeds of up to 130km/h on just electric power. Mercedes does admit that it has had to make some 'minor restrictions' to the boot capacity to fit the battery in, and the minimum load space falls to 395 litres, down from 580 litres in the standard model.
These two cars are part of a strategy that will see ten plug-in hybrids available across the Mercedes range by the end of this year. As Mercedes itself puts it: "Plug-in hybrids are also an important milestone on the way to emission-free driving."