Mercedes-Benz S 450e Launched in India at ₹2.20 Crore: First Plug-in Hybrid S-Class Offers 115 km Electric Range

Mercedes-Benz India has introduced the new S 450e, marking the arrival of the first plug-in hybrid S-Class in the Indian market. Priced from ₹2.20 crore, ex-showroom, the flagship luxury sedan combines a six-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and a 22 kWh battery, delivering approximately 115 km of pure-electric driving range under the WLTP testing cycle.

The new S 450e also arrives as part of the most extensive update undertaken within a single S-Class generation. Mercedes-Benz claims that more than 2,700 components, representing over half of the vehicle, have been newly developed, revised or refined.

Bookings for the S 450e have commenced, while customer deliveries are scheduled to begin during the fourth quarter of 2026.

Mercedes-Benz S 450e Price in India

Mercedes-Benz is offering the plug-in hybrid limousine in two configurations:

Variant	Ex-showroom price
Mercedes-Benz S 450e Launch Edition	₹2.20 crore
Mercedes-Benz S 450e MANUFAKTUR Edition	From ₹2.38 crore

The MANUFAKTUR Edition is aimed at customers seeking a greater degree of individualisation through exclusive paint finishes, interior materials and personalised equipment combinations.

India Gets Its First Plug-in Hybrid S-Class

The S 450e represents an important expansion of Mercedes-Benz India’s electrified portfolio. Until now, Indian S-Class customers could choose conventional internal-combustion variants, while Mercedes-Benz’s fully electric luxury offerings were sold under the EQ range.

The addition of a plug-in hybrid creates a middle ground between those two powertrain formats. Owners can complete shorter urban journeys using electric power while retaining a petrol engine for highway travel and longer intercity journeys.

Mercedes-Benz India says the model reflects its powertrain-agnostic strategy, under which internal-combustion, battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles will coexist according to customer requirements and market readiness.

For India’s luxury-car market, this approach could prove particularly relevant. Charging access remains inconsistent across cities and highways, but many premium buyers have access to dedicated parking and home-charging facilities. A plug-in hybrid can therefore operate as an electric vehicle during regular city use without creating the range-related concerns associated with longer journeys.

3.0-Litre Petrol Engine With Electric Assistance

The S 450e is powered by an updated 3.0-litre M256 Evo inline-six turbo-petrol engine. The combustion engine independently produces 326 hp and 540 Nm.

It is paired with a 120 kW, or 163 hp, synchronous electric motor, positioned between the engine and the nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic transmission. The electric motor develops up to 440 Nm.

Together, the two power sources produce a combined output of:

• 435 hp

• 680 Nm

This makes the S 450e more powerful than the petrol-powered S 450 4MATIC, which develops 381 hp and 500 Nm.Despite its focus on rear-seat comfort and efficiency, the plug-in hybrid is capable of accelerating from 0–100 km/h in 5.7 seconds. Its maximum speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h.

Unlike some other S-Class derivatives, the S 450e uses a rear-wheel-drive configuration rather than all-wheel drive.

22 kWh Battery Delivers Around 115 km of Electric Range

A 22 kWh lithium-ion battery allows the S 450e to travel approximately 115 km on electric power, based on the WLTP testing standard.

The claimed range should theoretically be sufficient to cover most daily urban journeys without starting the petrol engine, provided the battery is charged regularly. Actual range will, however, depend on factors such as traffic conditions, driving behaviour, ambient temperature, climate-control use and passenger load.

During normal operation, the vehicle can alternate between electric and combustion power. Mercedes-Benz says the transition between the two propulsion sources has been engineered to remain largely imperceptible to occupants.

For owners who charge the car at home or at their workplace, the S 450e could potentially perform much of its daily running as an electric limousine. The petrol engine then acts as a long-distance power source when the battery charge is depleted or additional performance is required.

Most Extensively Updated S-Class of Its Generation

The plug-in hybrid powertrain is only one part of the 2026 S-Class update. Mercedes-Benz says more than 50 per cent of the vehicle has been modified, with over 2,700 new or revised components.

Visually, the sedan receives a larger illuminated radiator grille, redesigned lighting elements and new Mercedes-Benz star detailing.

The grille is approximately 20 per cent larger than before and features three-dimensional chrome stars. The front-end design is complemented by new twin-star DIGITAL LIGHT headlamps equipped with micro-LED technology.

Mercedes-Benz claims that the new lighting system creates a high-beam illumination field approximately 40 per cent larger than the previous setup. Its ULTRA RANGE high beam can project light for up to 600 metres, subject to road and operating conditions.

At the rear, the updated tail-lamps feature three chrome-framed star-shaped lighting signatures, strengthening the visual connection with the Mercedes-Benz identity.

MB.OS and MBUX Superscreen Bring a More Advanced Digital Experience

The new S-Class introduces the Mercedes-Benz Operating System, or MB.OS, which serves as the digital foundation of the vehicle. The system integrates and coordinates multiple vehicle functions through a unified computing architecture. It supports the infotainment system, navigation, connected services, driver assistance and several comfort-related functions.

The S 450e is equipped with the MBUX Superscreen and the latest generation of Mercedes-Benz’s infotainment interface. It also receives the AI-enabled “Hey Mercedes” virtual assistant, which supports more natural conversational interaction.

Other digital features include an enhanced Zero Layer interface and MBUX Surround Navigation based on Google Maps. The objective is to reduce the number of steps required to access commonly used functions while presenting relevant information according to the driving situation.

For a vehicle positioned primarily as a chauffeur-driven luxury limousine in India, the digital experience for rear-seat passengers will be almost as important as the technology available to the driver.

AIRMATIC Suspension and Rear-Axle Steering Offered as Standard

The S 450e is equipped with AIRMATIC air suspension as standard, designed to provide the isolated and composed ride quality expected from an S-Class. The vehicle can also use Car-to-X information shared by other Mercedes-Benz vehicles through the company’s cloud-based network. Based on available road-condition data, the suspension can prepare for speed breakers and surface imperfections before the vehicle reaches them.

Rear-axle steering with an angle of 4.5 degrees is standard. Customers can upgrade to a system offering up to 10 degrees of rear-wheel steering. The larger steering angle can reduce the car’s turning circle by nearly two metres. This should make the long luxury sedan easier to manoeuvre through narrow driveways, hotel entrances, underground parking areas and congested urban roads.

At lower speeds, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels to improve manoeuvrability. At higher speeds, they can turn in the same direction as the front wheels to enhance stability.

Up to 15 Airbags for the First Time in India

Mercedes-Benz has equipped the S 450e with an extensive safety package that includes up to 15 airbags, the highest number offered on the S-Class in India so far.

The sedan also receives an enhanced adaptive restraint system and PRE-SAFE Impulse belt pretensioners. The safety architecture is designed to provide protection across all seating positions rather than concentrating primarily on the driver and front passenger.

The exact availability and operation of individual safety systems may vary according to the vehicle’s specification and market configuration.

Mercedes-Benz S 450e: Technical Specifications

Specification	Mercedes-Benz S 450e
Engine	3.0-litre M256 Evo inline-six turbo-petrol
Petrol-engine output	326 hp and 540 Nm
Electric-motor output	163 hp and 440 Nm
Combined output	435 hp and 680 Nm
Transmission	Nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic
Battery capacity	22 kWh
Electric range	Around 115 km WLTP
Drive configuration	Rear-wheel drive
0–100 km/h	5.7 seconds
Top speed	250 km/h, electronically limited
Suspension	AIRMATIC air suspension
Rear-axle steering	4.5 degrees standard; 10 degrees optional
Airbags	Up to 15

What the S 450e Means for India’s Luxury-Car Market

The introduction of the S 450e indicates that plug-in hybrid technology may occupy a more meaningful position in India’s top-end luxury segment. Luxury-car buyers often have predictable daily travel patterns, dedicated parking and better access to private charging than the wider passenger-vehicle market. This gives plug-in hybrids a practical use case, particularly when their electric range is sufficient to cover everyday commuting.

The S 450e’s claimed 115 km range is significantly more substantial than the token electric capability associated with many earlier plug-in hybrids. Owners who charge regularly could complete a large percentage of their urban journeys without consuming petrol.

At the same time, the six-cylinder engine preserves the effortless long-distance performance expected from an S-Class. This combination allows Mercedes-Benz to introduce greater electrification without asking buyers to depend entirely on India’s public-charging network.

However, the real-world environmental and operating-cost benefits will depend heavily on charging behaviour. A plug-in hybrid is most effective when its battery is charged frequently. If it is primarily driven with a depleted battery, the additional weight of the electrical system can reduce some of its efficiency advantage.

The S 450e is not merely another S-Class variant. It represents a strategic bridge between Mercedes-Benz’s traditional petrol-powered limousines and its fully electric EQ models.

Its 435 hp output ensures that electrification does not come at the expense of performance, while the 115 km claimed electric range is large enough to make electric-only operation realistic for many owners. The revised lighting, MB.OS digital architecture, AIRMATIC suspension, rear-wheel steering and expanded safety package further strengthen its position as Mercedes-Benz’s technological flagship.

At ₹2.20 crore, the S 450e remains an ultra-luxury proposition, but it offers a distinctive combination of electric urban mobility and unrestricted long-distance usability. For buyers who appreciate the refinement of an EV but are not yet ready to move entirely away from an internal-combustion engine, the new plug-in hybrid S-Class may be one of the most convincing alternatives available in India.

The larger significance is that Mercedes-Benz is no longer treating electrification as a single-path transition. By offering petrol, battery-electric and plug-in hybrid choices in the premium market, the company is allowing customer usage patterns—rather than powertrain ideology—to determine the most suitable form of luxury mobility.