With stricter emissions and fuel economy standards being enacted worldwide, it doesn’t appear that any brand will be safe from downsizing. That includes performance divisions, such as Mercedes-Benz’ AMG. But through continual development, AMG engineers are working hard to ensure their cars will be both mean and green.
As we’ve reported before, AMG is planning to launch hybrid and possibly even diesel-powered models. But before the brand moves onto those technologies, Car says it will be cleaning up its current engine lineup. The first to go will be the brand’s 6.2L V8. To replace that engine, AMG is working on a new twin-turbo 5.0L V8. In base guise, that mill will make 570 horsepower and 665 lb-ft of torque. There is talk of even a higher output version of the engine replacing the company’s 612 horsepower V12, which would be rated at 700 horsepower and 885 lb-ft of torque.
In addition, AMG has plans to add a hybrid system to the new V8 — dubbed BluePower. However, it remains unclear if AMG will use the Flybrid system by X-Trac — which uses a flywheel to produce energy — or a more conventional setup that uses a separate 100 horsepower electric motor. Moreover, AMG is planning to have its first plug-in hybrid to market by 2012.
But according to Car, AMG won’t be the only brand touting turbocharged V8s. Mercedes is also developing its own turbocharged V8, including a 355 horsepower 4.0L, a 435 horsepower 4.6L and a 544 horsepower 5.5L.
But before we get to these new engines, we’ll see at least one more AMG supercar sporting the “old tech.” Car says the new Gullwing — which we have referred to as the SLC but is actually being developed under the codename C197 — will use the brand’s 6.2L V8 and will send its power to the rear wheels via an eight-speed gearbox.
As for diesels, Car says that AMG doesn’t have any such programs in place, but the brand is keeping an open mind.
04/25, 4:37 PM
posted by:
TOZO
Back to the C32 AMG before we know it? Because it’s a big change going from 62 to 32.
04/25, 4:42 PM
posted by:
Rafa LL
Yes it is. And are the big changes that dictates Companies future.
Think they’ll do fine.
04/25, 5:01 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Oh yeah, a lean, green f*cking 700 horsepower machine. Green compared to what- a Mack truck? Give me a break.
04/25, 6:55 PM
posted by:
nitehawk
LOL ^ agreed…700 HP “GREEN”. thats a little contradictory…
04/25, 8:47 PM
posted by:
LuckyLou
“Green” has just become a retarded marketing tool…so many companies/corporations across the spectrum are entirely full of sh*t these days…it’s the devil’s way now.
04/25, 9:18 PM
posted by:
stang67
I will miss the 6.2 AMG, beautiful motor. are turbos and superchargers good for daily driving. I thought they wear engines out faster due to stress
04/25, 9:57 PM
posted by:
928dreamer
Noooooo………Don’t ditch the 6.2L V8. That is a phenomenal engine. Get rid of those overly complicated twin turbo V12’s and give us a twin turbo 6.2 V8. I am guessing that could put down some serious power.
Green, HA yeah right.
04/26, 3:22 AM
posted by:
Jon
Everything that is old is new again… turbocharging was all the rage in the late eighties/early nineties as a cheap and quick way to make power. Witness the Chrysler 2.2 liter turbo engines. Turbos then began getting a bad name for engine wear, turbos seizing, oil sludge, bad lag, etc..
Now, engines are virtually lag-free and packed with synthetics. So now who turbos? Acura, BMW, Volvo, Saab, Chevy, Audi/VW, Porsche, Nissan, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Pontiac and on and on…
04/26, 9:11 AM
posted by:
swamprat
Green is retarded.
04/26, 3:24 PM
posted by:
K-Factor
Saving upto 65% of fuel (claimed by FlybridSystems) seems to be a good deal keeping in mind the performance results from the 700HP V-shaped engine.
04/26, 5:35 PM
posted by:
autonut
How green is 4.0L turbo V8 gonna be? 13 city 20 hwy?
04/26, 6:42 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
Diesels would be really awesome, something similar to what Audi has done.
But otherwise, same as what everyone else has asked. Sooner or later, they’ll begin rationing our purchases, just like they’ve already done with rice up here (because of “high demand”)
04/27, 1:43 PM
posted by:
AMGoff
Hopefully they’ll stop their long standing tradition of over-estimating their models… it always bugged me when they’d name something a “63″ when it only had a 6.2L engine…
04/27, 1:45 PM
posted by:
AMGoff
And if they really wanted to be “green” they’d save some resources and just recycle some of their old designs… MB used to make some truly handsome cars, but they’re new styling direction has made most of their models too plump and too ugly… dare I say – even worse than a Bangle BMW…
04/27, 2:09 PM
posted by:
Jon
About the 6.2 L thing giving a nod to history. I think Ford did the same thing in the 80’s/90’s with the 5 L Mustangs that were really 4.9’s. (An engine that, in the early 80’s, was struggling to crank out 140hp!)
04/28, 2:42 PM
posted by:
Z06ified
Yeah, this will be just as Green as a Prius. Give me a break! What exactly is “green” about this? Smaller displacement doesn’t automatically mean better fuel economy and lower emissions. Another car for the hypocrits.