Mercedes-Benz India has launched the S 450 e Launch Edition, the first plug-in hybrid in the brand’s flagship S-Class range. The launch marks a major step in Mercedes-Benz’s powertrain-agnostic strategy, bringing electric vehicles to the premium luxury sedan segment in India for the first time.
Mr. Santosh Iyer, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India said, “The S-Class embodies the extraordinary legacy of timeless luxury from Mercedes-Benz and sets the global benchmark for automotive excellence. In India, it leads the premium luxury segment and redefines customer aspirations – best-in-class comfort in every seat, a superior driving experience, quiet power and safety, unparalleled poise and personalization and an intuitive digital experience powered by MB.OS. The new S Featuring 2,700 new and updated components that enhance comfort, safety, digital experience and refinement, the S-Class is the most advanced S-Class ever and follows a flexible, powertrain-agnostic strategy, continuing the legacy of the S-Class in India. The introduction of plug-in hybrids in India for the first time reflects the growing demand for plug-in hybrids from our premium customers. PHEV directly answers this question and now has ICE, BEV and PHEV in our lineup. Powertrain, customers have the flexibility to choose the powertrain that best suits them.”
At the heart of the S 450 e is an updated 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo-petrol engine producing 326 hp and 540 Nm of torque, paired with a 120 kW electric motor integrated between the engine and nine-speed automatic gearbox. The combined output is 435 horsepower and 680 Nm of torque, which is more powerful than the gasoline version S 450 4MATIC. The car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.7 seconds, and its top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h. Unlike most S-Class models, the S 450 e is rear-wheel drive only, a configuration that prioritizes refinement for rear passengers and gives the car its unique character within the S-Class family.
The 22 kWh lithium-ion battery provides an all-electric range of approximately 115 kilometers on the WLTP cycle, enough to cover most urban commuting in major Indian cities without the use of an internal combustion engine. For longer journeys, a gasoline engine is available on demand, eliminating range concerns entirely. During daily driving, the switch between electric power and combustion engine is seamless and imperceptible to the driver and passengers.
The 2026 S-Class is also the most extensively updated model in the model’s history, with more than 2,700 new or revised parts. The front of the car is equipped with new dual-star DIGITAL LIGHT headlights using micro-LED technology, which can project a distance of up to 600 meters – about 40% farther than the previous generation. The radiator grille has been enlarged by approximately 20% and now features lighting, while newly designed taillights with the iconic star in a chrome frame reinforce the identity of the rear of the car.
Internally, the new S-Class is powered by the purpose-built Mercedes-Benz operating system MB.OS, which connects all vehicle systems into a smart ecosystem. The standard MBUX Superscreen brings AI-based voice interaction, an enhanced zero-layer interface, and MBUX surround navigation based on Google Maps. Chassis highlights include standard AIRMATIC air suspension and 4.5 degrees rear axle steering, which can be upgraded to 10 degrees – reducing the turning radius by almost two meters for easier maneuvering in the city and in hotels. Safety certifications include enhanced adaptive restraint systems, PRE-SAFE pulse seatbelt pretensioners and up to 15 airbags.