AMG gets serious

Newswheel staff :: 23 January 2006 :: Filed under Estate/Wagon, Saloon, Mercedes Benz, Mercedes Benz AMG, Europe & UK, US

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Less supercharging, more turbocharging and dual-clutch boxes on the way. Probably

Although AMG’s 5.5-litre supercharged V8 has never been short of power, it’s not exactly the most sophisticated lump around. Especially compared with BMW’s high-revving M Power units and Audi’s new Lambo-derived V10 mill. Factor in AMG’s slavish use of torque converter slushboxes - when all the world is currently moving to robotised manual boxes - and it’s no surprise to hear that Mercedes’ in-house tuner has plans to buff up its sporting credentials.

First up is the new 510bhp 6.3-litre V8, announced late last year. Designed to replace the virtually ubiquitous 5.5-litre supercharged unit which found its way into everything from the E Class wagon to the CL supercoupe, AMG says it was developed from scratch and is not related to M-B’s new quad-cam 5.5-litre V8. And of course, it’s naturally aspirated. As AMG’s boss Volker Mornhinweg told US mag Autoweek, supercharging is history for AMG. “With the 6.3-liter V-8, we reach the same kind of output without supercharging. For the future, the trend will be turbocharging.”

AMG’s new 6.3-litre, all aluminium V8 is not based on an existing Mercedes engine

For the midterm, AMG will focus on just two engines: that new V8 and the existing twin-turbo V12. Take that to its logical conclusion and you have the scary prospect of a 6.3-litre SLK roadster. “For the SLK we could use the new 6.3-liter engine, but we may also raise output of the current engine <that’s the 5.5-litre single cam V8 sans supercharger>. There is no decision yet,” Mornhinweg reckons. As for more diesel AMGs, we’re glad to report that there are no current plans. Diesels are fine for tractors, buses, commuter vehicles and for burning poo in large metal drums (see the new Gulf war flick Jarhead…), but let’s not pretend they do the job for driver’s cars.

But to get back on message, what of gearbox options? Surely AMG needs to take on BMW’s SMG and Audi’s DSG robot boxes with something a little more sporty and high tech than its current torque converter offerings? “We are very successful with our current package, which includes automatic transmissions. But dual-clutch transmissions are a feature that can be a lot of fun, because we can shift faster and play with the engine. We are actually evaluating the possible benefits and the feasibility of such an option. But, to be clear, it is nothing to expect for next year. (However,) when the system comes, it will come with more than one model.”

Anyway, for more deets on AMG’s plans for the future, hop on over to Autoweek and check out the full interview.

Linkage:
Autoweek