Its pretty cool. I have talked to people who had W222s with MBC (mine has airmatic like most of them) and now have a W223 with eABC and they say the new system works much better.

 

Just wondering, just how rare are ABC-equipped cars? That is, compared to cars that could've had it specced (i.e. S-class or similar, no AWD).

 

V12s all get it, most of the real AMGs as well and it's an option if you max out the top tier cars/SUVs. It's not common per se but it isn't exactly rare.....

The new system will be much more common since it requires less space than ABC and doesn't need the centralized hydraulic pump and nest of lines and accumulators. As time goes on, like air suspension being disseminated to essentially everything active systems like this will be standard. If you want it now you need to buy a true flagship to get it ahead of everyone else

 

EXTREMELY rare. Its basically a special order option, but that could be because of the chip shortages. eABC can be paired with AWD while MBC could not. Its also an expensive option ($6K) and the car rides great without it...

I personally wouldn't option it, I'd rather have a 4D audio for the same money.

In the W223 the V12 specifically will not have it, because it doesnt have a 48V system. Its not standard on ANY S Class, inclduing the Maybach, its always an option. In the W222 series MBC was also optional even on the Maybachs. It wasnt compatible with 4Matic either...

 

I was answering how common ABC is not the new system since I think that's what they were asking?

 

Even comparing the W222 which covers the last 9 years of S Classes, the MBC (ABC) is extremely rare, and the AMG S63 cars, which are all 4Matic, don't have it. The AMG S65 (V12) cars did have it, which were unavailable with 4Matic.

 

Well, the engine doesn't turn off in the U.S. market vehicles but they still can decouple the engine from the drivetrain. My old Panamera and various BMW's I've had (in EcoPro mode) will do this.

 

Yes, some AWD cars will decouple the front/back axle at highway speeds, but power is still being sent to the primary set of wheels. You don't need any hybrid or mild hybrid system to do this.

 

That's not what I was talking about, it did this:

 

That's just basically putting your car in neutral gear, which is an entirely different concept from the Mercedes system. There's really nothing to prohibit anyone from putting their car into neutral.

 

Yes, as I said in my original post lol. Was just posting what some manufacturers choose to do to save fuel even though we can't enable most strategies in the U.S.

In any event, I do think U.S. manufacturers will get more on board with 48v systems for the remaining ICEs by the end of the decade. It seems only Stellantis is doing this now.

 

I was a fan of it as well- loved it on my E60 550i. Mercedes still uses active role stabilization in some of its models using the 48v system. It was interesting to drive one with the roll stabilization (AMG GLE53) and eABC (GLE580) back to back. The AMG of course had sportier suspension tuning but the eABC clearly had greater breadth of ability.

 

I’ve got the 48v mild hybrid on my 2 litre diesel X3 and I’ve been impressed. The start stop is much smoother, barely perceptible at times, and it just seems to have a bit more low down torque than previous diesels I’ve had with the same engine. As has been mentioned it will switch off the engine and coast for a surprisingly long time on slight downhill gradients. Overall I’m getting 48mpg (40 mpg US) from general driving, and 57 mpg (46 mpg US) on my 42 mile commute, where that coasting comes into effect.

 

I have this on my X5. Many say it makes *** transition more smoothly and saves some gas. After a while, I still can't get used to *** so I coded it off. I did pay attention once to see if it made any change in mpg. Not really from what I saw. Maybe for a longer run. After using MB's ***, I now feel BMW's is not as noticeable. I read that this system gives an extra 11hp but not sure how it really works.

 

I have this is in my M340i and if I'm not in Sport Plus I can get 40 MPG easy which is excellent for a car with nearly 400 WHP. It's a great system.