AMG Working on Naturally Aspirated Version of Its New 5.5l V8 Engine

We love AMG’s fresh 5.5 liter twin-turbocharged V8, but we also have to say that we are missing the linear power delivery of the naturally aspirated 6.2 liter V8. Well, it seems like the German engineers are preparing a new powerplant for fans of natural aspiration.

According to AutoWeek, Mercedes-Benz is currently working on a naturally aspirated incarnation of the 5.5 liter unit. The unit is expected to offer an output of 422 hp. This is not exactly what we meant when we said that we’d like a new NA engine on current AMG models as the output seems less than satisfying in today’s power-crazy world. However, any new hardware that is destined for the German Power War is welcome.

The new engine will make its way under the hood of models like the fresh SLK, and the C-Klasse Coupe. These are two vehicles that are still hot on our hard drives, so we’ll have to wait a while until they get AMG versions. From the SLK’s point of view, this will be a serious improvement, a the new mill will allow the car to offer 62 more hp.

The engine will follow the current efficiency-focused trend. In other words, it will use fuel-saving technologies, such a cylinder cut-off mechanism. This will allow the vehicles that will receive the powerplant to offer a high level of efficiency, turning them into some kind of half-green monsters.

The aforementioned source adds that, while the upcoming C55 AMG Coupe will use the new 5.5 liter mill, the C63 AMG saloon will keep the current naturally-aspirated 6.2 liter unit.