The E300 features a turbodiesel engine with 204 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque (read: plenty) with an electric motor pushing out another 27 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque (plenty more). We love that the E300, which we snapped pics of at the Detroit Auto Show today, is capable of pure electric mode all the way up to 100 miles per hour, as well as featuring all the usual hybrid bells and whistles like auto start/stop for saving fuel at stoplights, and regenerative braking for extending battery life while driving. For the E400, that same motor gets paired with 306-horsepower, 273 lb-ft gas engine, for a significantly less impressive 27 mpg.
Will Mercedes release both models to the U.S.? After all, diesel models usually go to our lucky European friends, while we Americans get the gas models. Sadly, Mercedes plans once again to release the diesel model to the European market and reserve the less efficient gasoline model for the U.S., but with the tide slowly turning in favor of efficient diesel models in the U.S., we may get a crack at the E300 at some point. Both models will be released early summer 2012.
+ Mercedes
