By: IOL Motoring Staff
East London - The Mercedes-Benz C350e, released this week in South Africa, is special in a number of ways, not least because it is the first plug-in hybrid model to be locally assembled, which has pushed the Mercedes plant in East London to raise its game, in terms of both quality and safety.
Hybrid electrical systems work at very high voltages (generally around 400 volts) to reduce losses and make their battery packs more compact. All the Mercedes workers and contractors involved in building the C350e had to be specially trained to work with these high-voltage components.
Rather than carry over any bad habits that might have crept in at other Mercedes plants, the company called in Tuv Sud, an international testing, certification and training company (which, incidentally, is also responsible for Germany's incredibly strict roadworthy enforcement) to make sure the plant was up to the highest international standards.
Powerful combo
The C350e is also the first Mercedes plug-in hybrid with a four-cylinder petrol engine, a 1991cc direct-injection turbo that's rated for 155kW at 5500rpm, and 350Nm from just off idle. Add to that 60kW and 340Nm from the electric motor sandwiched between the engine and the seven-speed 7G-Tronic Plus transmission, and you've got a total of 205kW and 600Nm.
That'll launch it from 0-100 in a quoted 5.9 seconds and on to 250km/h - not supercar performance, admittedly, but respectable fleetness of foot for a compact luxury sedan carrying 100kg of ballast under the floor of its boot.
Electric propulsion
Mercedes-Benz quotes a pure electric range of up to 31km - probably sufficient for a daily commute in crowded Europe, although many people in Gauteng drive a lot further to get to work every day.
The 6.2kWh battery pack, which is mounted in a steel box behind the rear axle to protect it as far as possible from impact, can be charged in less than two hours from a dedicated 16A wall box, or a little longer (depending on the connection) from a 13A domestic supply.
In addition, every time you hit the brakes, the electric motor becomes an alternator, recovering as much energy as possible before seamlessly bringing in the disc brakes as back-up for hard braking.
Even the accelerator pedal gets in on the act: if you're in pure electric mode, you'll feel extra resistance as you push past a certain point, warning you that if you push any further, you'll bring in the petrol engine.
A helping hand
Also, the Eco Assist function will give you a double tap on the sole of your foot when the car's radar spots a slower moving vehicle in traffic, telling you to get off the loud pedal so that it can manage the best possible balance between free-wheeling and recovering energy under braking, to maintain a safe distance and avoid sudden braking in stop-go driving.
Mercedes' conventional drive select system has been updated for hybrid use to give you five transmission modes, namely Economy, Comfort, S (Sport), S+ and Individual (allowing you to tailor the various parameters).
In addition, the operating mode switch lets you vary the balance between petrol and electric power - within limits.
Luxury trim options
The C350e comes standard with the Avantgarde body trim package comes standard with air suspension, Attention Assist, Collision Prevention Assist Plus and an internet-compatible infotainment system. The options list, as always with cars from Stuttgart, is practically unlimited.
Price
C350e Avantgarde - R804 900
As with all Mercedes passenger cars, the C350e comes with a six-year or 100 000km maintenance plan.
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