Mercedes-Benz S500e hybrid 2016 | new car sales price

Australia’s environmentally conscious billionaires will be pleased to hear that Mercedes-Benz has announced the price of its S500e plug-in hybrid limousine ahead of its local launch later this month.

Available only in long-wheel base, the S500e will start from $319,715 and sit towards the top end of the S-class line-up above the $310,000 V8-powered S500.

Powered by a 245kW/480Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo petrol engine and an 85kW/325Nm electric motor, for a combined 325kW and 650Nm, the 2.2 tonne hybrid limo can luxuriously whisk dignitaries and heads of state from 0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds.

The S500e can be driven in four different modes: Hybrid which automatically switches between the engine and motor for the best efficiency; E-Mode for purely electric driving; E-Save which will maintain the batteries’ current charge level and Charge mode which use the engine only while topping up the batteries through regenerative braking.

The S500e is not only the most fuel efficient S-Class, it's more frugal than any other petrol or diesel-only vehicle in the entire Mercedes-Benz line-up

Running on electricity alone the S500e has a range of 33km after being fully charged. Charging can be done through a regular home power point using the cable provided and takes about four hours, while a $2000 wall unit will halve that time.

Sipping petrol at an average combined rate of just 2.8L/100km the S500e is not only the most fuel efficient S-Class, it's more frugal than any other petrol or diesel-only vehicle in the entire Mercedes-Benz line-up.

The S500e is part of the first wave of Mercedes-Benz plug-in hybrids which includes the C350e sedan and GLE 500e. A petrol-electric plug-in E350e will follow in 2017.

More details and specifications will be revealed closer to the S500e’s official launch.

Do you think the S500e is the ultimate green limo? What other carmakers should be doing an enviro-luxury liner, too? Tell us what you think in the comments below.