Plug-in hybrid debut: Presentation of the Mercedes AMG S 63 E Performance

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Following the S 450e and S 580e, the Mercedes S-Class will also be available as an AMG model with a plug-in hybrid module, although it will have a completely different character. The most powerful S-Class ever is likely to be aimed at customers in markets such as China or the Middle East. BMW also has a similarly powerful top model in its lineup in the form of the BMW M760e xDrive. The electrified powertrain promises customers even more burly acceleration with no regrets on fuel consumption and Mercedes compliance with fleet limits. To ensure that the AMG S 63 E Performance lives up to its name, the tuners have trimmed the powertrain for performance, which primarily involves a newly developed battery.

System power 509 kW

The electric part of the drive corresponds to that in the other S-Class plug-ins, but is also used in virtually identical form in the C-Class PHEV. In combination with the V8 gasoline engine, it produces a total output of 509 kW and a maximum system torque of 1430 Nm. The plug-in hybrid module with electric rear-axle drive adds a further 70 kW to the 450 kW of the biturbo engine, and even double that for a maximum of ten seconds. Mercedes connoisseurs will of course immediately notice that this is 10 kW less than in the C-Class plug-in hybrid, for example. Product manager Damian Hampen explains: "We opted for this solution because of the range.

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Mercedes-AMG S 63 E Performance exterior (7 Bilder)

However, the S-Class, which is significantly heavier than the C-Class, can only drive up to 33 kilometers in pure electric mode in the WLTP. At 13.1 kWh, the battery is considerably smaller than in the other S-Classes with plug-in hybrid. By comparison, the S 580e offers 110 kW of electric drive power, 28.6 kWh of battery capacity and charges with 11 kW three-phase at AC or, for an additional charge, with up to 60 kW at the DC charging point. Mercedes is revealing next to nothing about the AMG PHEV's charging performance in advance. But it will almost certainly not offer 60 kW DC charging power. The package insert lists a standard 3.7 kW of AC power, but more may be possible at least for an additional charge.

To implement the concept of almost continuous fully available power output under all conditions, the engineers have developed, among other things, particularly thin cooling modules, each of which cools the 1200 cells (C-Class 569) individually. A total of 30 liters of a liquid that is non-conductive for safety reasons flow around the energy storage units to safely dissipate their heat.

Recuperation with up to 90 kW

This ensures that the battery temperature settles at 45 degrees. Heat is generated not only by acceleration but also by recuperation, which can feed up to 90 kW back into the battery in four stages, enabling almost continuous one-pedal driving. A typical feature of the driving dynamics tuning is that the strength of the recuperation is oriented to the respective driving mode.

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Mercedes-AMG S 63 E Performance interior (3 Bilder)

A finely adjustable brake in the rear axle differential is supposed to put the ESP out of work most of the time. If the slip becomes too great, only the electric motor initially reduces power. This means that the combustion engine does not have to be throttled, which results in control processes that are imperceptible to the driver. The Mercedes flagship can reach speeds of up to 140 km/h on electric power alone.

Three voltage levels in the network

Active roll stabilization is part of the chassis package, but its power consumption also means that the Mercedes-AMG S 63 E Performance requires three on-board power supplies: 48 volts for stabilization, 400 volts for the traction battery and still the historically required 12 volts. In addition, drivers of the PHEV S-Class have to accept restrictions in the rear-axle steering. To accommodate the electric components and the battery, the wheels only turn in at a maximum of 2.5 degrees instead of ten degrees as in the non-electrified variants of the luxury sedan.

(fpi)