Mercedes-BenzNews

Mercedes To Phase Out V12 Engines From All Models

K keshy
Posted onNov 30, 2008 at 11:42 PM

brabus-v12

Mercedes-Benz, longtime stalwarts of the V12 engine, is considering lowering its preferred cylinder count by a third. While our first inclination is to assume that this change is being made to increase the fuel efficiency and lower the emissions of the overall Daimler line, the real reason that the bent-12 engine program is being dropped is simply because the block is too long. A V12 is, for all intents and purposes, the same length as an inline-six, and the German automaker’s latest line of mainstream engines are all in a V-design, so its cars are no longer being designed with an engine compartment large enough to house such a lengthy engine. Fear not, power fans, as the company isn’t abandoning high horsepower in general. The V12 program is apparently being shifted towards twin-turbo V8s, and the magic of forced-induction means there’s no reason to assume that fewer cylinders will equal fewer ponies. Expect the moratorium on V12s to begin the next few years.

Source: AutoBlog

Post Views: 462
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    st_adolf
  • Dec 1, 2008
V12 engines usually are gas guzzler, heavy & lazy.
abundant of torque at low rev.
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    Crazy Biscut
  • Dec 1, 2008
Even Mercedes is dropping their V12,Germany going Turbo crazy.....
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    st_adolf
  • Dec 1, 2008
maybe mercs has 2.4L V8 twin turbos pumping out 700bhp so they decided to drop V12 for good.
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    ephique
  • Dec 1, 2008
But Zonda's will still continue the line of Merc's V12. That should be good enough.
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    hause
  • Dec 1, 2008
Not quite ephique. Zonda is expected to be replaced soon. Its limited run of cars is already nearing its end. Besides, a V12 architecture is too large, heavy and because of the many cylinders, doesn't rev as easily as a smaller engine would because of the inertia of the cylinders and flywheel.

The new high rev-ing 6.2 liter V8s from AMG is proof that Mercedes is moving away from the low-revving torque grunt of the 5.5 liter supercharged V8s, to a more higher revving V8s engines (compare 2750-4k rpm vs 5200 rpm peak torque output).

Which either damages the appeal or broadens the appeal of Mercedes performance cars. Depending on which camp you come from. The low revving long distances autobahn crusher or the maniacal mountain road super car hunting. Well you choose, mourn or rejoice.
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Means Merc V12 halfcut should be available soon kakaka~
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    ephique
  • Dec 2, 2008
owh~ but at least its in the current zonda. the zonda f roadster does make a beautiful noise. i heard there will be a replacement for the zonda next year. sumtin like that.

But V8 doesn't have a good primary and secondary balance unlike the V12. So the inertias and etc. don't play that much. Nevertheless, V8 is a legendary layout.
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    m5dude
  • Dec 4, 2008
mercedes starts putting effort on their V8 engines are in-line with F1 technology transfer to road cars & also mainly due to their line of cars in FR layout.

V12 or V10 engines are huge & heavy, fit best on mid-engine layout supercar due to weight distribution issue.
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