Zawawi Trading Co. L.L.C. has launched the Mercedes-Benz S 400, the first luxury hybrid sedan to be available in the Sultanate of Oman.

The new S 400 HYBRID is the world's first series production car to feature a hybrid drive system with a lithium-ion battery. With this new vehicle, Mercedes-Benz is emphatically underlining its claim to leadership in design, comfort, innovation and environmental compatibility.

The combination of an improved V6 petrol engine and a compact hybrid module makes the Mercedes-Benz S 400 the world's most efficient luxury saloon with a petrol engine. Its fuel consumption of 7.9 liters per 100 kilometers corresponds to carbon dioxide emissions of 186 grams per kilometer.

The combined output is 299 hp, with a combined maximum torque of 385 Newton meters. The S 400 HYBRID accelerates to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds through its seven-speed automatic gearbox and has a top speed of around 250 km/h showing that environmentally compatible drive systems and outstanding performance are not necessarily a contradiction in terms.

The S-Class hybrid offers all the advantages of this drive concept. An ECO start/stop function automatically switches the engine off when the S-Class comes to a stop at, for example, traffic lights or in traffic queues. During deceleration, kinetic energy is recuperated via a disc-shaped electric motor fitted between the gearbox and the engine and stored by the compact lithium-ion battery housed in the engine compartment and not, unlike competitive models, in the boot taking up valuable luggage space. This energy is used when required, for example when accelerating.

For the comparative assessment forming part of the environmental certification process, the S 400 HYBRID with a combined output of 299 hp was compared to the 272 hp S 350 petrol model.

Even the conventionally powered S 350 impresses with good fuel consumption figures for this vehicle class using only 10.0 to 10.2 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers - depending on the tyres. This excellent figure is easily bettered by the S 400 HYBRID, which consumes just 7.9 to 8.1 l/100km. This corresponds to a remarkable 21-percent reduction. The S-Class with hybrid technology also achieves top figures when it comes to CO2emissions, which are between 186 and 189 g/km.

Taking the entire life cycle into consideration, namely production, operation for 300,000 kilometers and recycling/disposal, the S 400 HYBRID produces 18 percent lower CO2emissions than the comparative model. The lower requirement for energy resources caused by the lower fuel consumption during the operating phase also leads to a 17-percent reduction in fuel requirements, which is around 7,000 liters of petrol.

The driver is able to monitor the status of the hybrid drive system visually. The instrument cluster has a separate, centrally positioned display showing the energy flow during boost and recuperation phases, as well as battery charge status.

To test the practical suitability of the hybrid drive system with a lithium-ion battery, specialists from Stuttgart subjected 200 pre-production examples to extended trial around the globe including thousands of kilometers in the UAE prior to and after its Middle East debut at the Abu Dhabi Motor show in December 2008.

The S 400 HYBRID proved over ten million kilometers of everyday driving that it is robust, efficient and unreservedly suited to practical operation.

The new S400 HYBRID sets new automotive standards and is expected to attract technology savvy customers and early adopters of new innovations who understand the need to conserve energy and the socially responsible requirement to reduce emissions and fuel consumption to increase the lifespan of the country’s resources.