Mercedes-Benz AMG Will Use Direct Injection, Start/Stop Engines by 2012

GENEVA — At an evening press conference prior to the start of the 2008 Geneva Auto Show, Volker Mornhinweg, CEO of AMG, announced that his division will introduce gasoline direct-injection engines and start/stop ignitions in an attempt to reduce the overall CO2 emissions of its entire lineup by 2012.

Gasoline direct-injection engines allow for more precise combustion, which typically results in improved efficiency and reduced emissions. The start/stop feature also reduces fuel consumption by shutting the engine down when the vehicle comes to a stop and restarting it as soon as the gas pedal is pressed. Most hybrids use such a system. Direct injection is also used in various production cars already, but none of the current AMG models use the technology.

According to Mornhinweg, the AMG division is also considering hybrid power as a possibility. There are no concrete plans for a particular model just yet, but the high torque produced by electric motors fits the AMG image. "At the end of the day, we stand for torque," Mornhinweg said.

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