Look for a Mercedes-Benz diesel hybrid to grace our shores in late 2009 or 2010. So says the head of Mercedes-Benz in the U.S. Diesels are undisputed mileage champions on the highway. Hybrids reign supreme at city mpg and there's no requirement that their inernal combustion engines be gasoline-powered. So the perfect car for times of costly fuel would be the ... diesel hybrid. Mercedes-Benz USA President Ernst Lieb, speaking earlier this month at the International Motor Press Association (IMPA), said, "You will see a diesel hybrid in 18 to 24 months." The first Mercedes-Benz diesel hybrid would be the high-end S-Class, which starts at $87,575 as a gasoline-fueled car.

At last November's Los Angeles Auto Show, Mercedes showed the S400 Bluetec Hybrid, which it touted as having "the performance of a V8 with the fuel economy of a four-cylinder." The V6 engine is rated at 265 hp and 465 pound-feet of torque (a lot) with a 0-60 time of around 7.2 seconds and highway economy of about 40 mpg. At the show, Mercedes said the car would be available "after 2010." Now it sounds as if Mercedes is trying to shorten the lead time and get it here a year sooner. While some may scoff at spending $100K (nicely equipped) to save a few dollars per fill-up, the affluent don't want to look like their environmentally unconscious. Plus, in a mix of city and highway driving, you might be able to go 750 miles between fill-ups, closer to 900 if you're feeling lucky.