The new S400 Hybrid isn’t the first full-size luxury sedan to assume gasoline/electric operation. Lexus launched its LS 600h L sedan, with a comparable hybrid powertrain, as a 2008 model. Both companies evidently believe there’s a significant urge for greater fuel economy and reduced emissions, even at the upper end of the economic scale.

One big difference lies in the battery. With the S400, Mercedes-Benz is the first automaker to issue a series-production model with a lithium-ion battery pack that fits into the engine compartment. Except for seldom-seen Fisker and Tesla cars, other hybrids use nickel metal hydride batteries.

Under the S400 hood, a 3.5-liter V-6 gasoline engine generates 275 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. A 15-kilowatt electric motor is located between the gas engine and the seven-speed adaptive automatic transmission, which incorporates Sport and Comfort modes. The electric motor adds 20 horsepower, for a total of 295; plus 118 pound-feet of starting torque, to boost acceleration when taking off.

Unlike some hybrid-powertrain vehicles on the market, this one does not have a full hybrid system. The engine shuts off automatically as you slow down and come to a halt at a stoplight or stop sign, but the S400 Hybrid cannot run on battery power alone. Electricity augments the gasoline engine, but cannot substitute its function. In some hybrid models, the gasoline engine shuts off and restarts with a bit of a bump. Not here. It’s nearly impossible to discern the transition between engine shut-off and subsequent start-up at a stoplight.

The rear-wheel-drive S400 Hybrid gets a fuel-economy estimate from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of 19 mpg in city driving and 26 mpg on the highway—comparable to a smaller gas-engine car. In contrast, the Mercedes-Benz S550 sedan with a 382-horsepower V-8 gets a mileage estimate of only 15 mpg city/23 mpg highway. Naturally, the S600 with its 510-hp V-12 engine is even less thrifty. Built on a 124.6-inch wheelbase and measuring 206.5 inches long overall, the S400 Hybrid is a substantial automobile, weighing at least 4,390 pounds. That’s a lot for any powertrain to push.

Everything is super-smooth in the S400 Hybrid, just as it is in every S-Class sedan. After all, this is Mercedes-Benz’s prime model: the very top of the sedan lineup in terms of luxury and comfort/convenience. So, you get nearly every S-Class benefit and element of elegance, coupled with the promise of consuming less fuel and yielding fewer emissions.

With a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 7.2 seconds, performance admittedly falls short of the capabilities of the S550 sedan. Even so, the S400 Hybrid comes close enough to satisfy most potential buyers in this league. Only the most ardent high-end hot rodder is likely to grumble about any shortage of screaming acceleration. And those folks aren’t likely to lean toward a hybrid of any class, much less the upper-luxury S-Class. Even an S550 or S600 doesn’t satisfy everyone, which is why Mercedes-Benz’s AMG division turns out super-performance S63 and S65 editions.

Every S-Class model, including the S400, is loaded with technology and driver conveniences. The standard Pre-Safe system can sense an impending collision and tighten seatbelts, as well as apply additional braking force. Mercedes-Benz also offers a Driver Assistance Package that includes a Blind-Spot Alert, Lane-Departure Warning, and Distronic Plus adaptive cruise control. New Attention Assist is a driver-fatigue alert system that provides both an audible and visual warning when it senses lack of alertness.

Back-seat video entertainment with dual screens is offered. A Rear Seating Package includes four-zone automatic climate control, a rear-seat memory, and heated/active-ventilated rear seats. A Sport Package includes several appearance items, and may be augmented by a panoramic moonroof. Night View Assist Plus is another extra-cost option, but 20-inch tires are a no-charge alternative to the standard 18-inch rubber. Although the S400 Hybrid is the lowest-priced S-Class model, it’s hardly a giveaway at $88,825 (including destination charge). Still, the gasoline-engine S550 sedan stickers for $93,475.

So we continue our dreaming but time has changed and today you no longer need to dream for owning this car. Now you can take this car “lease” as an owner. There are several offers are available now where you can go for Mercedes Benz leasing without actually buying it. Without a long term commitment of perspective you can get the car of you dream by leasing Mercedes Benz.
But before leasing this car we need to carefully review all the terms and condition of the contract paper. Here you don’t have worry about maintenance charges and you can select any latest version of this car for lease. It will cost you extra rent if you exceed the pre agreed annual mileage. The fixed annual mileage is set at 12,000 miles per year.
So, leasing a Mercedes Benz is the best way to fulfilling the dream of driving Mercedes Benz with a reasonable price. Regular Mercedes news also helps you knowing about all the news latest Mercedes news and keeps you updates. A  Mercedes Lease is the best option to get a brand new one.

Abbey National is the British high-street bank featuring Lewis Hamilton (Formula 1 driver for the McLaren Mercedes F1 racing team) and the Lego bridge in its marketing and promotion. The bank was taken over by Banco Santander and is now called Santander UK. The new name was launched together by Emilio Botin (the Banco Santander chief) and the McLaren Mercedes F1 racing team driver Lewis Hamilton, in January 2010.

Balbinder Chagger was an employee whose employment Abbey Santander UK terminated in 2006, claiming the termination was due to a completely fair compulsory redundancy exercise. He, on the other hand, alleged that race discrimination was the real reason behind his dismissal. He was of Indian descent. He had been reporting into Nigel Hopkins at the McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton and Lego bridge featuring Abbey Santander UK when it terminated his employment.

Although a wide range of factors can drive organisations to behave unethically, the key ones are: pursuit of personal interests; the amount of discretion an organisation affords its officers; the degree of autonomy in decision-making and action-taking an organisation permits its officers; and the organisation’s orientation. These drivers are highlighted by Emilio Botin’s Abbey Santander UK legal case.

Organisations and their officers sometimes put the pursuit of personal interest above other considerations. Pursuit of personal interests can be a strong incentive to behave unethically. For example, the Employment Tribunal found that Nigel Hopkins had personally desired to terminate Balbinder Chagger’s employment with Abbey Santander UK and had arranged it to occur; he had used the organisation’s compulsory redundancy procedure to achieve his personal aim.

Organisations sometimes afford their officers some degree of discretion; the greater the discretion afforded, the greater the opportunity the officer has for acting in his personal interests. The Employment Tribunal found that Abbey Santander UK had allowed Nigel Hopkins a very wide range of discretion in selecting whom to make redundant; it allowed Mr Hopkins to use highly subjective and un-measurable redundancy selection criteria. Nigel Hopkins was basically left to select whom ever he personally desired.

Organisations sometimes afford their officers some degree of autonomy in decision-making and action-taking; the greater the degree of autonomy, the greater the opportunity the officer has for acting in his personal interests. The Employment Tribunal found that Abbey Santander UK had allowed Nigel Hopkins a very wide range of autonomy in decision-making and action taking; he was able make an employee redundant entirely single-handedly.

The organisation’s orientation can also drive unethical behaviour. An orientation towards results regardless of how they are achieved can send the message that ‘the ends justify the means’. For example, the Employment Tribunal found that Abbey Santander UK and Nigel Hopkins had breached the UK’s laws regarding discrimination and employment in terminating Balbinder Chagger’s employment.

These then are the key factors that drive organisations to behave unethically. They apply to a wide range of specific ethical issues, such as miss-selling, misleading advertising, harassment, exploitation, victimisation, unethical employment practices, unethical environmental practices, health and safety, and so on.

Mercedes-Benz secured military contracts for the vehicle in the late 1970s and offered a civilian version in 1979. Designed to be a durable, reliable, and rugged off-roader, the G-wagen utilizes three fully locking differentials, one of the few vehicles sold in the U.S. to have such a feature, along with the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, Toyota 80-series Land Cruiser, Pinzgauer High Mobility All-Terrain Vehicle, and Mercedes-Benz Unimog. Among the engines offered in the G-Class for the 2004 model year is a 5.5-liter V8.

Take a look at the Awesome Mercedes G-class 4×4

The Mercedes-Benz CLS is an executive-size sedan based on the W211 E-Class platform. Marketed as a ‘four door coupe,’ the CLS recalls the fastback saloon designs of Robert Opron (born 1932) in the 1970s but is actually the work of the influential American automotive designer, Michael Fink (born 1967) who styled the first CLK, the C-Sportcoupe’, and is known as the stylist who penned the Maybach 57 and 62 respectively. According to a Mercedes-Benz press release, the CLS-class was produced to combine the “strong, emotive charisma” of a coupe with the “comfort and practicality” of a saloon. Save for its four-door design, the CLS’s design tends towards a coupe, as its sleek roofline reduces the rear passenger room to a 2+2 arrangement, and it offers a smaller selection of engines tending towards high powered of the range, compared to contemporary sedans such as the E-Class.

This is the first premium compact crossover SUV that Mercedes-Benz has ever produced. Though the GLK 350 may be a bit more solid than what we are used to seeing from them it does not disappoint us. The platform for this SUV was built on the standard C-class sedan.

So why did Mercedes choose to construct an SUV? “We needed a car like the GLK 350,” sales representative Mark Leonard said. “It’s designed to go head-to-head with the BMW X3 and it is doing a fantastic job.”

The SUV was first debuted earlier this year and is planned to be a 2010 model version. It has already gathered much media attention because of its unique design and the starting price that Mercedes-Benz has set for it. Many people were expecting to see a high number – but were surprised when the business set it at a low $33,900. This will most definitely be in the running for the affordable SUV on the market and may be able to overpass the X3 in price alone.

The GLK is outfitted with a 3.5 liter V6 engine and joined with a seven speed automatic transmission. Together the two work in harmony and allow for a smooth but powerful drive. It is simpler then before to speed up the car and it has the ability to reach 60 MPH in only 6.9 seconds.

If you wish to choose the premium packet you will be given a panorama sunroof, power liftgate, media upgrade package, heated front seats, and memory settings for mirrors, steering wheel, and the driver’s seat. You will also be given numerous of the more favorite characteristics that include power assist, dual zone automatic climate control, eight CD sound system, and a trip computer. Mercedes also supplied the standard safety features to every model.

From the front, the GL looks big and brutish. The design is typical Mercedes-Benz and features a prominent twin slat chrome grille that along with the wheel arches fairings complements the aerodynamic BlueEFFICIENCY package. Bi-xenon projector headlamps and LED fog lamps which double up as daytime driving lights come as standard. The chrome front underbody protection looks sporty and protects the underpinnings when the going gets rough. The sides of the SUV are rather plain and featureless and the profile becomes rather boxy as you go aft of the C-pillar. The aluminum-effect running boards are the only attractive feature on the sides. From the rear though the GL looks much better though with echoes of the M-Class. Overall the GL has immense and intimidating presence while the chrome underbody protection, twin exhausts and LED tail lamps give it a touch of sportiness.

The GL-Class is available with a common- rail 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine (the 350 tag is a misnomer) that produces a maximum power of 226PS at 3800rpm and produces a maximum torque of 510Nm between 1000rpm and 2800rpm. It has an undersquare bore-stroke layout (83.0mm x 92.0mm) and a compression ratio of 17:7. This engine is part of Mercedes’ OM642 family of engines which is found on various models like the ML 350, S 320 and the E 350 though it makes the least power in the GL. A 7G-Tronic 7 speed automatic transmission with sport mode distributes the torque in a 50:50 split between the front and rear wheels. One can also manually shift via paddles. Shifting via the paddles is very quick and there is hardly any delay in information relayed from the shifter to the transmission while upshifting as well as downshifting. Just like all Mercedes-Benz cars the gear selection is done through a lever on the steering column freeing up space on the central tunnel for storage bins.
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Once a person has bought a used car, there are ways that they can improve them. This may be a person’s first car. It should therefore be well taken care of. The good news is that changes to the car can be made slowly as you go on using it.

First, change the outside color and give it a fresh coat of paint which will make it look as good as new. Then moving to the interior, a person may decide to change the car seats giving it a whole new look. A trip to the garage is without a doubt handy. The reason for this is to let the mechanic look at the engine. Being used cars, there is a high probability that there will be a few problems with the car. These should be sorted out easily since it will be handled by professionals. Since most people have the tendency of neglecting a car because it is a used car, you should not follow suit since your main objective is to make it last. Give the car special treatment, by changing the oil regularly, auto detailing it and taking it to the garage from time to time.

Lastly, learn to love the car as this will give you more responsibility over it as you will be very careful when using it. A good tip when buying used cars is to look for a car that is in good condition. Do not go buying a very old car that you will end up spending so much money repairing compared to buying a brand new one.

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