Mercedes-Benz India has launched the new S 450 e, marking the debut of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) in the prestigious S-Class range in India. The luxury sedan represents an important milestone in the brand’s powertrain-agnostic strategy, combining the refinement and comfort of the flagship S-Class with the efficiency and silent driving capability of electrified mobility.
Positioned in India’s top-end luxury vehicle segment, the new S 450 e is being introduced as the most advanced S-Class yet, featuring the most extensive updates within a single S-Class generation. According to Mercedes-Benz, more than 2,700 components have been newly developed, updated or refined, enhancing the vehicle’s comfort, safety, technology and overall driving experience.
The S 450 e is powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain delivering a combined output of 320 kW (435 hp) and 680 Nm of torque. The luxury sedan offers an electric-only driving range of approximately 115 km (WLTP), enabling customers to undertake most daily trips in pure electric mode. The vehicle accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.
Santosh Iyer, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “The S-Class epitomizes Mercedes-Benz’s exceptional heritage of timeless luxury, setting global standards for automotive excellence. In India, it continues to define customer aspirations through unmatched comfort, cutting-edge technology, superior safety and an intuitive digital experience. With over 2,700 new and updated components, the new S-Class combines comfort, refinement further enhancing the innovation, making it the most advanced S-Class ever introduced in the country.”
He said, “Mercedes-Benz follows a flexible, powertrain-agnostic strategy, and bringing a plug-in hybrid variant to the S-Class for the first time in India reflects this approach. With internal combustion, battery-electric and plug-in hybrid technologies now available in our portfolio, customers have greater freedom to choose the mobility solution that best suits their lifestyle.”
Mercedes-Benz India has opened bookings for the new S 450 e, with customer deliveries scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The S 450 e LAUNCH edition is priced at ₹2.20 crore (ex-showroom), while the more exclusive S 450 e MANUFACTUR edition is priced starting at ₹2.38 crore (ex-showroom, all India).
With the introduction of the S 450 e, Mercedes-Benz is expanding its electrified luxury portfolio in India, while offering customers a compelling blend of electric mobility, long-range capability, cutting-edge technology and the hallmark luxury associated with the S-Class nameplate.
A new standard for electrified luxury: At the heart of the S 450 e is the updated 3.0-litre M256 Evo inline-six turbo-petrol engine, now Euro 7 compliant, producing 326 hp and 540 Nm. Integrated with a 120 kW (163 hp) synchronous electric motor located between the engine and a 9-speed 9G-Tronic automatic transmission, the combined system delivers 320 kW (435 hp) and 680 Nm of torque – making the S 450 e more powerful than the petrol S 450 4Matic, which produces 280 kW (381 hp) and 500 Nm.
115 km electric range: The S 450 e’s 22 kWh lithium-ion battery offers a pure electric range of approximately 115 km (WLTP) – which is enough for most urban commutes in major cities of India without involving the combustion engine. During everyday driving the drivetrain continuously transitions between electric and combustion power, with the transition invisible to occupants. For longer journeys, the petrol engine is available on demand, completely eliminating range concerns.
The S 450 e accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 5.7 seconds, with an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h. Unlike most S-Class variants, the S 450 e is rear-wheel drive only – a configuration that prioritizes rear passenger refinement and contributes to the car’s distinctive character among the S-Class family.
The most comprehensively updated S-Class in history: The 2026 S-Class extends well beyond powertrains. The front gets new twin-star digital light headlamps with innovative micro-LED technology, which provide approximately 40% larger high-beam illumination area than the previous generation, with the ultra range high beam projecting up to 600 meters ahead. The radiator grille has been enlarged by approximately 20% and is now illuminated with redesigned three-dimensional chrome stars. At the rear, newly designed tail-lamps with three chrome-framed signature stars reinforce the S-Class identity.
MB.OS in the new S-Class: An intuitive and cutting-edge system The purpose-built Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS) is the supercomputer behind the new S-Class, powering every domain and connecting all systems into an intelligent ecosystem.
MBUX SuperScreen and Latest MBUX: The standard MBUX SuperScreen and latest generation MBUX bring the AI-based “Hey Mercedes” MBUX virtual assistant with natural dialogue, an advanced Zero Layer Interface, MBUX Surround Navigation based on Google Maps to the S-Class, which transforms interactions into an intuitive, human-like experience.
CHASSIS AND RIDE: Airmatic air suspension is standard on the S 450 E, as well as rear-axle steering at 4.5 degrees. The steering can be upgraded by up to 10 degrees, which reduces the turning circle by almost two metres, making it much easier to navigate tight parking spaces, narrow hotel driveways and crowded city centres. Using car-to-X information shared by other Mercedes-Benz vehicles via the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud, the car prepares the suspension for speed bumps and road imperfections in advance.
Hallmark Safety: Safety remains the hallmark of the new S-Class with intelligent protection for every seat. It continues Mercedes-Benz’s safety leadership through an advanced adaptive restraint system, including PRE-SAFE® impulse belt pretensioners and up to 15 airbags.
