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Spyshots: 2016 W213 Mercedes E-Class Plug-in Hybrid First Photos

The Mercedes testing crew has packed heavy winter gear and moved to northern Sweden for what promises to be yet another grueling winter testing session. Our spies are hot on their trail and have managed to capture the first photos of the all-new E-Class as a plug-in hybrid.
2016 W213 Mercedes E-Class Plug-in Hybrid 12 photos
Photo: CarPix
2016 W213 Mercedes E-Class Plug-in Hybrid2016 W213 Mercedes E-Class Plug-in Hybrid2016 W213 Mercedes E-Class Plug-in Hybrid2016 W213 Mercedes E-Class Plug-in Hybrid2016 W213 Mercedes E-Class Plug-in Hybrid2016 W213 Mercedes E-Class Plug-in Hybrid2016 W213 Mercedes E-Class Plug-in Hybrid2016 W213 Mercedes E-Class Plug-in Hybrid2016 W213 Mercedes E-Class Plug-in Hybrid2016 W213 Mercedes E-Class Plug-in Hybrid2016 W213 Mercedes E-Class Plug-in Hybrid
From a distance, this looks like any ordinary W213 prototype, but if you look closely enough at the rear bumper, you may notice there's a charging port. This is the same port placement they used for the GLE plug-in hybrid, which will be revealed next year.

Built on the MRA platform shared with the current C-Class, the next E-Class is two years away from its debut. It will be ever-so-slightly longer than its current version, but the biggest change they plan to make is extending the wheelbase. The sedan will also be lighter, more rigid and economical, which is what we're here to talk about.

We can only presume that since the GLE is to be considered the E-Class of the SUV range, the two cars share engines. However, we're not completely sure what engine they will use. There might even be two versions of the car, one with a 4-cylinder and the other with a V6.

The W205 C-Class is available with a C350 Plug-in Hybrid powertrain that combines 211 PS 2-liter turbo engine from the regular C300 with an 70 PS electric motor and a seven-speed automatic gearbox.

That setup is likely similar to what BMW are planning for the G30 5 Series sedan, due out somewhere around 2016. On the X5 eDrive concept car, they showed a system that combines a 2-liter turbo with 245 hp with a 95 hp electric motor to deliver 330 hp and 600 Nm (442 lb-ft) of torque.

Mercedes shares its home town with another carmaker that offers a pair of large, expensive plug-in hybrid vehicles. Porsche's Panamera and Cayenne S E-Hybrid both use V6 engines.

High demand for these clean luxury cars seems to be coming from China, where local governments are trying to reduce pollution by whatever means possible. Rumor has it that both the next-gen Audi A6 and the Porsche Pajun (a smaller sedan) will have all-electric versions.
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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