It's not the S300 BlueTec diesel hybrid previewed in our "New and upcoming hybrids" gallery a few months back, and so it tops out at a claimed 30 mpg versus 44 mpg for the diesel (in the European combined test). A 20-horsepower electric motor powered by lithium-ion batteries sits adjoined to the 3.5 liter 275 horsepower V-6 in a belt-alternator setup, similar to the "partial" or "mild" hybrid setup of the Chevrolet Malibu.

The Germans have been noticeably lacking in hybrid technology, but Mercedes could have gathered more green points for introducing the hardware on its smaller C and E-Class sedans. We'll just have to wait.