Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has previewed its plug-in hybrid sedan, the Mercedes-Benz C 350 e, ahead of its launch in between four and six weeks’ time – with deliveries starting end-October or early November. Likely a response to the BMW 330e (which will be launched this weekend), today’s reveal showed that the car will not be positioned as a like-for-like rival, but more as a higher-priced, value-added alternative.
Unlike the BMW, which is expected to retail between RM240k and RM260k, the C 350 e will carry an indicative pricing of RM299,000. This positioning will put it slightly under the RM307,888 C 300, which it will replace in the local C-Class lineup. A wallbox charger will be offered as an option, priced at around RM7,200.
Propulsion will come from the ubiquitous 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine in a similar tune to the C 250, making 211 hp and 350 Nm of torque. Providing additional power is an 80 hp/340 Nm electric motor sandwiched between the engine and the 7G-Tronic Plus seven-speed automatic transmission, resulting in a total system output of 279 hp and 600 Nm.
As a result, the C 350 e will go from 0-100 km/h in just 5.9 seconds, while combined fuel consumption is rated at 2.1 litres per 100 km on the European NEDC cycle. The car has an all-electric range of 31 km, with a maximum speed of 130 km/h in this mode. Carbon dioxide emissions sit at just 48 grammes per kilometre.
The electric motor is juiced by a 6.2 kWh high-voltage water-cooled lithium-ion battery fitted at the rear of the car, resulting in a stepped boot floor and reduced luggage space from 475 litres to 335 litres. Charging time is around 1 hour 45 minutes through the wallbox or around two hours using a standard 230 V domestic socket. The charging port is located under the right tail light.
The car shown here is a pre-production car from Thailand, in Exclusive trim – local-spec cars will receive the full AMG Line kit with aggressive front and rear bumpers and deeper side skirts, as well as the same 19-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels as the C 300. The cabin will also receive the AMG interior design, including an AMG flat-bottomed multifunction steering wheel.
Most of the kit will be identical to the C 300, including a panoramic sliding sunroof, the 590 W, 13-speaker Burmester surround sound system and Thermotronic three-zone automatic climate control. Additional kit will include Airmatic air suspension, a 360-degree camera system and a climate pre-conditioning system that will allow you to programme the climate control to turn on at a preset time.
Here are the specifications of the C 350 e in detail:
- Indicative pricing of RM299,000 (C 300 was RM307,888)
- 2.0 litre direct-injection, turbocharged engine
- 211 hp and 350 Nm of torque (C 250 power level)
- 80 hp and 340 Nm electric motor
- Total system output of 279 hp and 600 Nm
- 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds
- 2.1 l/100 km on the NEDC cycle
- All-electric range of 31 km, up to 130 km/h
- 6.2 kWh high-voltage water-cooled lithium-ion battery
- 2.0 hours charging time with 230 V domestic socket
- 1 hour 45 minutes with optional wallbox (around RM7,200)
- 335 litre boot (down from 475 litres in non-hybrid form)
- Airmatic adjustable air suspension
- 360-degree Surround View camera
- Climate pre-conditioning system
- AMG Line package with 19-inch multi-spoke wheels
- Open-pore Black Ash wood interior trim
- Artico faux leather seats, dashboard and door cards
- COMAND Online
- 13-speaker, 590 W Burmester sound system
- Thermotronic three-zone automatic climate control
Rest as per C 300 AMG Line:
We’ve driven the Mercedes-Benz C 350 e in San Francisco – read the review here.
