phev | ENGEAR ENGLISH

THE Mercedes-Benz C-Class W206 lineup for the Malaysian market has been further expanded with the addition of a new plug-in hybrid variant, the C350e.

According to paultan.org, the new variant replaces the C300 AMG Line that was launched alongside the C200 Avantgarde back in 2022. Like both variants, the C350e is locally assembled in Pekan, Pahang.

Powering the C350e is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 204 hp at 6,100 rpm and 320 Nm from 2,000 to 4,000 rpm. It is paired with an electric motor generating 95 kW and 440 Nm, providing the sedan with a total output of 313 hp and 550 Nm.

With a 9G-Tronic transmission driving the rear wheels, the C350e can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds and hit a maximum speed of 245 km/h.

The electric motor gets its juice from a 25.4 kWh capacity battery, developed developed in-house by Mercedes-Benz AG, enabling it to be driven up to 117 km on electric power alone. The maximum speed in this mode is 140 km/h.

The battery takes two hours to fully charge using an 11 kW AC charger. Included with the car is a mode 2 charging cable.

Kit-wise, the C350e comes with the AMG Line styling package, 18-inch AMG light alloy wheels, and the Night Package, which includes glossy black elements such as the louvre of the radiator shell, trim moulding in the AMG front apron, beltline trim strip and window surround, and exterior mirror housings.

This variant also comes standard with Digital Light with Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus, a panoramic sunroof, and ambient lighting.

The interior is adorned with AMG Line trim, featuring metal structure trim elements, a Nappa leather-wrapped sport steering wheel, AMG floor mats, and sport seats with Artico leather upholstery in black.

The MBUX infotainment system consists of a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, an 11.9-inch touchscreen, which is slightly tilted towards the driver by six degrees, as well as a wireless charger.

For safety systems, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) includes a 360-degree camera, Blind Spot Assist, Active Brake Assist, Active Parking Assist with Parktronic, Guard 360°, and Pedestrian Protection.

According to MBM, the estimated selling price for the C350e is around RM355,000 on-the-road, excluding insurance.

THE Toyota Crown Sport, which is one of the four models in the Crown lineup, is now available with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain in its home market, where it is priced from 7.65 million yen (RM248,030).

Similar to the hybrid version, the aforementioned powertrain employs the A25A-FXS 2.5-litre Dynamic Force engine, but in this version, the engine is assisted by a pair of electric motors.

On its own, the engine develops 177 PS and 219 Nm of torque, while the front and rear electric motors generate 182 PS/270 Nm and 54 PS/121 Nm, respectively.

The ICE-electric motor combo provides the Crown Sport PHEV with an E-Four all-wheel drive system and a healthy total system output of 306 PS.

With a 51-Ah lithium-ion battery, the SUV is capable of traveling up to 90 km without using a drop of fuel.

Not only that, it is also said to offer a fuel consumption rate of about 20.3 km/l and with a 55-litre fuel tank, it boasts a total cruising range of more than 1,200 km on a full tank.

According to Toyota, the Crown Sport PHEV supports both standard and rapid charging, with the latter enabling a charge to 80% power in 38 minutes.

The exterior may appear to be unchanged from the hybrid version, but underneath the gorgeous sheetmetal lies an additional braces to the floor tunnel to ensure an optimal balance of body rigidity.

Furthermore, the damping characteristics of the Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) system have been retuned for smoother and more stable ride.

The Crown Sport PHEV comes standard with 21-inch aluminum rims, 20-inch ventilated disc brakes with red calipers on all four corners, black and red interior colour scheme, paddle shifters and sports seats.

Other features include the Vehicle to Home (V2H) that can provide enough electricity for about 6.5 days of use in emergency situations, and My Room Mode, which allows users to enjoy air conditioning and audio systems from an external power source.