ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — A new family of engines will emerge from Mercedes-Benz starting late next year that will rely heavily on turbocharging and direct injection to deliver gains in power, efficiency and CO2 reduction. That's the word from Dr. Thomas Weber, member of the board at Daimler AG Group Research & Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, who spoke to Inside Line at an event here held for the unveil of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class convertible.
The new engine class, dubbed MoVe for modular V6 and V8s, will power a raft of new products that will begin to arrive late next year. Among them are a fully redesigned CLS sedan, a face-lifted R-Class people mover and a renamed and refreshed S-Class coupe, formerly known as the CL coupe.
Dr. Weber said that all eight-cylinder Mercedes-Benz models will be turbocharged by the 2011 model year and that includes the high-performance AMG variants. The current 6.2-liter normally aspirated V8 designed and built by AMG will be replaced by a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 with direct injection.
Non-AMG Mercedes-Benz models will get either a slightly smaller-displacement twin-turbo V8, a twin-turbo V6 or a normally aspirated 3.5-liter V6. All will use direct injection and most will be designed to integrate with hybrid drive systems.
In 2011, Weber said a C-Class coupe will join a face-lifted C-Class lineup. More news will arrive in 2011 with the complete redesigns of the SLK roadster and ML sport-utility vehicle. There's even a diesel/electric E-Class Bluetec Hybrid scheduled for production.
Finally, in 2012, an all-new SL roadster arrives. It will be offered in both standard and AMG versions, so it will make full use of the company's new engine technologies to reduce fuel consumption and improve emissions.
Inside Line says: If you like the idea of a big-block Mercedes-Benz, better buy an AMG now. Come 2011 it's all about twin turbos and it won't be the same. — Scott Oldham, Editor in Chief
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jeremy0818 says:
05:37 AM, 12/18/2009
They finally realized this 'classification' is getting out of hands:
A, B, C, CL, CLC, CLK, CLS, E, G, GL, GLK, M, R, S, SL, SLK, SLS, SLR, 'V'iano
But it seems they are still staying in the 'relentless pursuit for power' game. BMW M and Mercedes-Benz AMG isn't that special anymore, at least since 190E 2.3 / 2.5 (W201), C36/C43 (W202), 500E (W124), E55 (W210), M1, M3 (E30 and E36) and M5 (E28, E34 and E39) time of the 80's and 90's
jmaroun says:
09:34 PM, 12/16/2009
looks like a Mustang to me
darthbimmer says:
04:15 PM, 12/16/2009
Love the camo on that car. I can't tell whether the hood was taken from a Chrysler Crossfire/Sebring, a 1990s era Pontiac (pick any), or the lid of the dumpster behind my office.
hunter312 says:
01:12 AM, 12/16/2009
I'm not sure I like this. I love the 3.0L NA V6 in my C-Class. I have to replace my car for a 4Matic now that i've moved to the Northeast and i'm not sure I want to have a turbo. I mean they're excellent and all (had a 2.0T Audi A3 while living in England) but I prefer the responsiveness of an NA engine, regardless of if turbos match them.
From what i've read turbos decrease the life of the engine, though i'm not 100% sure that's true. In any case if they offer the 3.5L NA V6 with 4Matic i'm definitely buying that, or if I don't like what I see i'll just pick up a 2010 C300 4Matic - 230hp may not be super fast but most cars are downsizing to 4 Cylinders anyway and losing some power so it doesn't matter.
I wonder why they don't just continue using the 2.5L V6 that the C230 used to have? That engine was excellent - 201hp and 181lbs-ft of torque and it got over 30mpgs (I got about 34mpg) on the highway and around 22-26mpg in the city. Drove a 2007 M-B C230 and loved it!
mercedesfan says:
07:26 PM, 12/15/2009
I can't say I'm surprised by this as these are the only moves available to luxury car makers these days, but I'm nonetheless pleased. People always act like a Mercedes has to have a big, normally aspirated engine to be any good, but I've spent enough time in Europe to know that a Benz with a small super or turbocharged engine can be just as good, if not better. I look forward to the day when I can buy a lighter, more fuel efficient, and more powerful car.
@jb68902-
Take a spin in a modern turbocharged car (especially BMWs) and you'll realize that they offer supremely linear power delivery and more punch down low than a normally aspirated car. I also have an S550 and love it, but it has a noticeable dead-zone at very low rpms that a turbocharger would fix. In fact, the smooth rush of power from my father's W140 S500 is more appealing than my S550. Larger dislpacement isn't always better.
pontneuf2503 says:
05:28 PM, 12/15/2009
A 5.5L V8 isn't a big block, but a 6.2L is? I'll take the force-fed 5.5, please.
matt310 says:
02:19 PM, 12/15/2009
Perhaps looking at what BMW's done with a smaller V8 and twin-turbos will allieviate your power concerns. Search for X5 M and X6 M.
jb68902 says:
02:01 PM, 12/15/2009
This is terrible. I have a S550. It's not an AMG, but it's 5.5 litre. I don't want AMGs to become 5.5 litres, and the normal engines to be smaller. All of this will result in lower torque, turbo-lag, and the power will only be accessible at the top shelf of the rev range. So, in essence, MB is making cars that instead of improving, will be a step below.
thaitanium15 says:
12:33 PM, 12/15/2009
They should have done this 10 years ago.
zanni1 says:
12:11 PM, 12/15/2009
With two 20mpg hybrids on the market, how could Mercedes-Benz possibly need further engine development.?