Mercedes S Class Hybrid available from 2009

From treehugger.com, Mercedes have announced a hybrid version of it's flagship S class road car which will be the first production car to use Lithium Ion batteries.

OK so it's still a big heavy car with a 3.5 litre petrol engine and even in it's hybrid incarnation will still manage less than 30mpg but as the flagship vehicle of the marque where the S class innovates lesser models (and manufacturers) are sure to follow, with the technology sure to filter down more readily now to more affordable vehicles.