Photo: Mercedes-Benz
Downsizing and stricter emissions regulations have led to the elimination of most naturally aspirated engines from the lineups of major automakers, and this has affected the performance branches of some premium brands.
Mercedes-Benz and its AMG division are among them, as they have eliminated the 6.2-liter V8 unit for a smaller engine, which comes with two turbochargers. Meanwhile, its V12 brother is offered with two turbos as well, but it appears that it might not be available for long.
Even though cars with V12 engines do not achieve massive sales volumes, some automakers keep selling them, and the market for them is still firm. However, they still count when emissions are concerned, in spite of their modern exhaust gas treatment systems.
With all of the above in mind, you cannot help but wonder how long will the V12 engine remain in the Mercedes-Benz range.
While the ongoing models that have this engine in their offerings are not in jeopardy, their successors do not seem so lucky. Fortunately, Mercedes-Benz might have an ace up its sleeve, as the next generation of inline six units has shown.
We are referring to the 48V mild-hybrid system, which will be launched with the new inline-six engines from Mercedes-Benz as a standard feature. It will replace alternators and starters, along with providing a small power boost.
The system is not capable of powering the car alone, so all the models that get it will be mild hybrids, instead of full hybrids.
This system could be the key that Mercedes-Benz can employ to keep V12 units in its range. Instead of downsizing them to smaller displacements, the power plants could receive a prolonged swan song with a mild-hybrid setup.
Inspired by the one on the smaller inline sixes, the arrangement would bring energy recovering while braking, along with a faster start-up. Together, these features will reduce CO2 emissions, with significant help from the cylinder deactivation system.
So, instead of just killing off V12 engines, Mercedes-AMG, the division that handles their development, could install the described 48V mild-hybrid system to keep them in the portfolio for a few more years after the emissions regulations of 2020 become the norm.
Even though cars with V12 engines do not achieve massive sales volumes, some automakers keep selling them, and the market for them is still firm. However, they still count when emissions are concerned, in spite of their modern exhaust gas treatment systems.
With all of the above in mind, you cannot help but wonder how long will the V12 engine remain in the Mercedes-Benz range.
While the ongoing models that have this engine in their offerings are not in jeopardy, their successors do not seem so lucky. Fortunately, Mercedes-Benz might have an ace up its sleeve, as the next generation of inline six units has shown.
We are referring to the 48V mild-hybrid system, which will be launched with the new inline-six engines from Mercedes-Benz as a standard feature. It will replace alternators and starters, along with providing a small power boost.
The system is not capable of powering the car alone, so all the models that get it will be mild hybrids, instead of full hybrids.
This system could be the key that Mercedes-Benz can employ to keep V12 units in its range. Instead of downsizing them to smaller displacements, the power plants could receive a prolonged swan song with a mild-hybrid setup.
Inspired by the one on the smaller inline sixes, the arrangement would bring energy recovering while braking, along with a faster start-up. Together, these features will reduce CO2 emissions, with significant help from the cylinder deactivation system.
So, instead of just killing off V12 engines, Mercedes-AMG, the division that handles their development, could install the described 48V mild-hybrid system to keep them in the portfolio for a few more years after the emissions regulations of 2020 become the norm.
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