Mercedes-Benz Launches S-Class PHEV at ₹2.20 Crore; Deliveries to Begin in Q4

Mercedes-Benz India today launched the facelifted S-Class plug-in hybrid at a price ranging from ₹2.20 crore to ₹2.38 crore, ex-showroom India.

The new S-Class will be offered in two configurations, the Launch Edition Exclusive Line and the Manufaktur Edition AMG Line. Both variants will be imported into India as completely built units.

Bookings for the new S-Class have opened across Mercedes-Benz dealerships in the country. Customer deliveries will begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, with the automaker aiming to deliver the first units around Diwali.

The S 450e is the first plug-in hybrid S-Class to be introduced by Mercedes-Benz India. It is aimed at customers looking for electric driving during daily urban use, while retaining an internal-combustion engine for longer journeys. The S 450e combines a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine with a 120kW electric motor. Together, the system produces 320kW of power and 680Nm of peak torque.

It is equipped with a 22kWh battery, which offers a claimed pure electric driving range of up to 115km. Mercedes-Benz has claimed a WLTP-certified combined fuel efficiency of 32.3 kilometres per litre.

“Today, we're introducing a PHEV powertrain that stands in a class of its own in the Indian luxury market. The new hybrid S-Class delivers an astonishing pure electric range of up to 115 kilometres,” said Brendon Sissing, Vice President – Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz India.

“This enables silent, zero-emission city commuting while insulating you from urban chaos,” he added.

The S 450e is also claimed to be the first plug-in hybrid in India capable of supporting DC fast charging of up to 60kW. The system can charge the battery from 10% to 80% in around 20 minutes. Mercedes-Benz will provide a complimentary AC wallbox with the vehicle for charging at home or the workplace.

The plug-in hybrid also gets an intelligent Battery Hold mode, which allows the driver to preserve the battery charge for use later in the journey.

The regenerative braking system supports peak recuperation of up to 100kW. Mercedes-Benz said the system can add as much as 15% to the vehicle’s driving range. The intelligent energy-management system automatically selects the appropriate operating mode based on the journey and driving conditions.

Two Variants for India 
The facelifted S-Class will be available in two “avatars” in India.

The Launch Edition will be offered with the Exclusive Line styling package. The more expensive Manufaktur Edition will feature the sportier AMG Line treatment and a wider range of personalisation options.

The Manufaktur programme offers specialised exterior paint finishes, diamond-quilted Nappa leather and handcrafted interior trim options.

“Beyond advanced technology, the new S-Class celebrates the art of handcrafted luxury,” Sissing said. “Through our specialised Manufaktur division, master artisans hand finish every detail from heritage paint finishes to diamond quilted Nappa leather across the cabin,” he added.

More Than Half the Car Is New
Mercedes-Benz said more than 50% of the facelifted S-Class is new, despite the sedan retaining the familiar silhouette of the current-generation model.

“The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has always defined the benchmark for luxury and engineering. Today, we raise that benchmark once again,” Sissing said.

“We have re-engineered its hardware and electronic architecture to deliver a true generational leap in automotive intelligence,” he added.

The new model is underpinned by the Mercedes-Benz Operating System, or MB.OS. The software-defined architecture brings the infotainment, driver-assistance, powertrain and comfort systems under a centralised chip-to-cloud ecosystem. The cabin gets an MBUX Superscreen comprising a 14.4-inch central OLED touchscreen and a 12.3-inch front-passenger display under a single glass surface.

An intelligent privacy function prevents content on the passenger display from distracting the driver. The vehicle also gets a generative artificial intelligence-backed virtual assistant capable of natural, context-aware conversations. It can offer proactive suggestions based on the occupants’ routines, time of day and driving conditions.

Intelligent Damping Uses Cloud Data
The new S-Class features an intelligent damping system enabled by its chip-to-cloud architecture.

The suspension connects with the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud and uses crowdsourced road information and high-precision mapping data to anticipate potholes, speed breakers and other road irregularities.

The system can adjust the suspension before the car reaches the disturbance instead of reacting only after the wheels encounter it.

“The vehicle does not simply react to the road. It connects to the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud to stay ahead of it,” Sissing said.

15 Airbags Offered as Standard
The facelifted S-Class is equipped with 15 airbags as standard. Mercedes-Benz said it is the first car in India to offer this number of airbags.

The package includes front-facing airbags for rear-seat passengers. The car also gets seat-belt-integrated belt bags designed to provide additional torso protection.

The M-Drive Assist Package is offered as standard and uses a network of 27 advanced driver-assistance sensors. The radar and camera network monitors distance, vehicle speed, adjacent traffic, blind spots, traffic signs, lane markings and lateral movement.

According to the company, the intelligent drive controller can perform up to 254 trillion operations per second, enabling faster responses from the vehicle’s driver-assistance systems. “The S-Class has always been synonymous with safety, with every generation introducing breakthroughs like the first crumple zone, Pre-Safe Impulse Side, Night View Assist and anti-skid regulations,” Sissing said.

“Time and again, it has set these benchmarks for the industry, with these innovations becoming standard across the segments,” he added.

Rear-Seat Entertainment and Comfort
The rear executive seat can recline by up to 43.5 degrees.

The Energising Comfort package offers 10 full-body massage programmes, including a calf-massage function. It also includes an integrated neck-and-shoulder heating pillow.

The new MBUX rear-seat entertainment system comprises two 13.1-inch OLED displays with embedded cameras. These can recognise the passenger’s gestures and gaze. The S-Class gets a Burmester 4D surround-sound system with Dolby Atmos. It features 31 speakers, eight seat exciters and more than 1,600 watts of peak output.