The Mercedes-Benz S500 plug-in hybrid variant is yet another new car promising the performance of many cylinders and big displacement but with efficiency numbers comparable to a downsized four-pot.

The S500 plug-in is claimed to return 100.9 mpg UK (84 mpg US / 2.8 l/100km), emit a mere 65 g/km CO2 and has an electric-only range of 20 miles or ~32 km.

Performance-wise, it promises V8 grunt by combining a 333 hp twin-turbocharged V6 with electric boost, for a round total of 442 hp. This pushes the S500 past sixty in just over five seconds and on to the usual limited top speed of 155 mph or 250 km/h.

Starting price for one in the UK has been announced at £87,965 (on the road price), with first deliveries of the model set to commence towards the latter part of this month.

The car is exclusively offered in long-wheelbase guise, and comes specified to a very high level: 19-inch AMG wheels, AMG styling cues, front memory seats and radar-controlled predictive gear shifting are just some of the many features it comes with as standard.

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