Mercedes-Benz India has launched the new S 450 e, marking the debut of the first-ever plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) in the iconic S-Class range in India. The luxury sedan represents a significant milestone in the brand’s powertrain-agnostic strategy, combining the refinement and comfort of the flagship S-Class with the efficiency and silent driving capability of electrified mobility.
Positioned in India’s top-end luxury vehicle segment, the new S 450 e is being introduced as the most advanced S-Class ever, featuring the most comprehensive update within a single S-Class generation. According to Mercedes-Benz, more than 2,700 components have been newly developed, updated, or refined, enhancing the vehicle’s comfort, safety, technology, and overall driving experience.
The S 450 e is powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain delivering a combined output of 320 kW (435 hp) and 680 Nm of torque. The luxury sedan offers an electric-only driving range of approximately 115 km (WLTP), enabling customers to undertake most daily commutes in pure electric mode. The vehicle accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.
Santosh Iyer, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “The S-Class embodies Mercedes-Benz’s extraordinary legacy of timeless luxury, setting the global benchmark for automotive excellence. In India, it continues to define customer aspirations through unmatched comfort, cutting-edge technology, superior safety, and an intuitive digital experience. With over 2,700 new and updated components, the new S-Class further elevates comfort, refinement, and innovation, making it the most advanced S-Class ever introduced in the country.”
He added, “Mercedes-Benz follows a flexible, powertrain-agnostic strategy, and bringing a plug-in hybrid variant to the S-Class for the first time in India reflects this approach. With internal combustion, battery-electric, and plug-in hybrid technologies now available across our portfolio, customers have greater freedom to choose the mobility solution that best suits their lifestyle.”
Mercedes-Benz India has commenced bookings for the new S 450 e, with customer deliveries scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The S 450 e Launch Edition has been priced at ₹2.20 crore (ex-showroom), while the more exclusive S 450 e MANUFAKTUR Edition starts at ₹2.38 crore (ex-showroom, all-India).
With the introduction of the S 450 e, Mercedes-Benz is expanding its electrified luxury portfolio in India while offering customers a compelling blend of electric mobility, long-distance capability, cutting-edge technology, and the hallmark luxury associated with the S-Class nameplate.
A New Standard for Electrified Luxury: At the heart of the S 450 e is the updated 3.0-litre M256 Evo inline-six turbo-petrol engine, now Euro 7 compliant, producing 326 hp and 540 Nm on its own. Integrated with a 120 kW (163 hp) synchronous electric motor positioned between the engine and the 9-speed 9G-Tronic automatic transmission, the combined system delivers 320 kW (435 hp) and 680 Nm of torque — making the S 450 e more powerful than the petrol S 450 4MATIC, which produces 280 kW (381 hp) and 500 Nm.
115 Kms of electric range: The S 450 e’s 22 kWh lithium-ion battery provides a pure electric range of around 115 km (WLTP) — sufficient for most urban commutes in India’s major cities without engaging the combustion engine. The drivetrain continuously alternates between electric and combustion power during everyday driving, with the transition imperceptible to occupants. For longer journeys, the petrol engine is available on demand, eliminating range concerns entirely.
The S 450 e accelerates from 0–100 km/h in 5.7 seconds, with an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h. Unlike most S-Class variants, the S 450 e is rear-wheel drive only — a configuration that prioritises rear passenger refinement and contributes to the car’s distinctive character among the S-Class family.
The Most Extensively Updated S-Class in History: The 2026 S-Class extends well beyond the powertrain. The front receives new twin-star DIGITAL LIGHT headlamps featuring innovative micro-LED technology, delivering a high-beam illumination field approximately 40% larger than the previous generation, with ULTRA RANGE high beam projecting up to 600 metres ahead. The radiator grille has grown by around 20% and is now illuminated, accented with redesigned three-dimensional chrome stars. At the rear, newly designed tail-lamps with three chrome-framed signature stars reinforce the S-Class identity.
MB.OS in the New S-Class: An intuitive and state-of-the-art system, the purpose-built Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS) is the supercomputer behind the new S-Class, powering every domain and connecting all systems into one intelligent ecosystem.
MBUX Superscreen and latest MBUX: The standard MBUX Superscreen and latest-generation MBUX bring the AI-based “Hey Mercedes” MBUX Virtual Assistant with natural dialogue, an enhanced Zero Layer interface, MBUX Surround Navigation based on Google Maps to the S-Class, turning interaction into an intuitive, human-like experience.
Chassis and Ride: AIRMATIC air suspension is standard on the S 450 e, as is rear-axle steering at 4.5 degrees. The steering can be upgraded to 10 degrees, which cuts the turning circle by almost two metres, making tight parking spaces, narrow hotel driveways and crowded city centres noticeably easier to navigate. Using Car-to-X information shared by other Mercedes-Benz vehicles through the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud, the car prepares the suspension in advance for speed bumps and road imperfections.
Hallmark Safety: Safety remains a hallmark of the new S-Class, with intelligent protection for every seat. It continues Mercedes-Benz’s safety leadership through an enhanced adaptive restraint system, including PRE-SAFE® Impulse belt pretensioners and up to 15 airbags.
