AMG's 6.2 V8s set for retirement?
2009-02-10 06:37
In anticipation of European Union's 2012 emissions regulation, AMG’s latest test bed V8s are set to be fed by direct-injection and should see a reduction in swept capacity.
AMG’s famed large capacity V8s will be replaced by smaller capacity, direct-injection units in future, all in the interest of being 2012 EU compliant.
The performance subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz, AMG, has followed an under-stressed, large capacity design philosophy with regards to its high-output engine solutions. Emissions regulations though, are finally starting to catch up with the finite adjustability of the venerable 6.2l V8 - which is AMG’s mainstay powerplant.
According to German media sources, by next year all AMG engines are expected to feature leaner and cleaner burning direct-injection. This should buy AMG enough time to phase out the 6.2l V8 by 2012 – the date by which the European Union wants 120g/km of C02 output as a median fleet average for manufacturers.
Expect to see start/stop technology incorporated soon too, ensuring AMGs are nearly carbon neutral at traffic lights; we’ll all miss the forbidding V8 beat in traffic jams though…
AMG’s response in three years time should be a range of V8s measuring 4.6 to 5.5l in capacity, all featuring direct-injection, with selected engines boosted by dual-turbochargers too.
Sounds ridiculous, but stop/start technology is on the cards for the '63' badged AMG cars.
