Super Power: AMG V8 proves there’s no replacing displacement
Autoweek
7/15/05

In what Mercedes-Benz claims to be the most powerful, naturally aspirated eight-cylinder engine extant, the firm’s performance arm has developed a powerplant that will make it into virtually all its high-horsepower models.

M-B claims the 6.2-liter V8 develops “a minimum” of 510 horsepower and 464 lb-ft of torque without a supercharger, and has 20 percent more torque than other free-breathing engines in class. Cars fitted with the engine will get a 6.3-liter badge.

The engine and cylinder heads are high-strength aluminum and created with the latest metallurgical technology. Cylinder walls undergo a process to minimize friction, increase durability and add strength: The cylinder walls are twice as hard as conventional cast-iron liners.

AMG developed the engine without Mer-cedes. It has a throaty exhaust note reminiscent of late-1960s Trans-Am cars. It not only sounds better than the supercharged 5.4-liter models it replaces, it is smaller and lighter—438 pounds vs. 485 pounds.

AMG fitted a CLK DTM street racer with an engine for drive impressions. A bit of a shell game, on-site engineers privately agreed the car developed near 580 horsepower. Regardless, at first blush and full throttle the engine is a torque beast. That the 6.3 can fit in a current C-Class lends expectations that of the 24,000 engines AMG can build annually, they will be spread across the lineup. The 6.3 debuts at this fall’s Frankfurt show in an M-Class. It will be available in the States next year.

*drool*

I like how all that power is available on hand almost immediately, no waiting for a tubro to spool!

The is no replacement for displacement! So catchy!

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2006 BMW M5 "Heidi" @ 109,000 miles
2005 MBZ C55 AMG "Lorelai" @ 165,000 miles
1991 MBZ 300E "Benzachino II" @ 165,000 miles
1990 MBZ 500SL "Shoshanna" @ 118,000 miles

(On the hunt for a good used M103 engine as of 6/10/23, PM me if you have one to sell!)

With the availability of 200+mph tires, there are serious discussions that AMG, BMW and other makes will join Porsche in not putting in the 155mph limiters. More likely, the other makes are tired of having their cars passed by unrestricted (Porsche didn't limit) Boxster S's passing their flagship rockets on the roads.

I'd much rather have a forced induction motor. The supercharged V8 and the twin turbo V12 are easily modified for much more power and torque than this motor has to offer.

And what do you think Carlsson and Brabus are going to do with it?

True. However, have you seen the mark-up on Carlsson and Brabus products? For what they charge, you could purchase 2 or three extra cars.

I know Brabus will used forced induction but does Carlsson?

Carlsson SL600 Twin turbochargers, an air/water intercooler, three-valves per cylinder, twin-spark AC ignition. It's a go-er.

Judging by their prices it would be much cheaper to buy an entire SL 65 than to have Carlsson modify the new 6.3L engine so you could turbocharge. I ask again. Does anyone know if Carlsson actually ads turbos or superchargers to engines that did not come that way from the factory? I have yet to see any.

Since the new 6.3 it is a high compression NA engine, they would have to rebuild the engine with lower compression for it to be a suitable forced induction motor. I would much rather have the factory engineering than to pay an aftermarket tuner to remake an engine that was not designed for forced induction.

More Info

Unique variable intake manifold and revolutionary cylinder walls

Apart from the large overall displacement, the extremely high output and torque is above all due to the sophisticated intake system – a completely new departure for AMG. Its major characteristics are large cross-sections, the streamlined design of the entire intake and exhaust manifolds, and the vertical arrangement of all ducts in line with motor-racing practice. The newly developed and patented variable intake manifold, which is made of magnesium and has two parallel-action internal throttle flaps, is a world first. The combined action of these components, which are highly unusual in regular engine production, ensures perfect cylinder charging.

The 32 valves in the cylinder heads are operated by bucket tappets for a rigid valve train and high engine speeds – a technology which has proved its worth in motor racing. Continuous adjustment of the camshafts on the intake and exhaust sides is another special feature of this up-to-date AMG V8 engine. The interior of this powerful new development conceals yet another genuine world first, too: as the world’s first regular production engine, the AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine features a special twin-wire-arc-sprayed (TWAS) coating on the cylinder walls, a new process which produces outstandingly low friction.

Motor racing genes are once again obvious in the crankcase: as in the supercharged AMG V8 engine for the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, the engineers and technicians opted for a particularly rigid bedplate design with closed-deck technology. Special, cast-in steel components ensure even more rigidity, a reliable oil supply in all everyday operating situations and optimal long-term durability.

Completely autonomous development from Affalterbach

In design terms the new eight-cylinder engine by Mercedes-AMG is the first completely autonomous development to have no features or shared parts whatsoever in common with other eight-cylinder units by Mercedes-Benz. The new 6.3-litre unit differs from the other AMG V8 engines based on Mercedes designs in the distance between cylinders, the crankcase concept, the sophisticated intake and exhaust manifolds and the valve train; the bore/ stroke ratio is also a completely new departure for Mercedes-AMG. The new powerpack is produced at the ultra-modern AMG engine workshops, according to the "one man, one engine" philosophy. This means that a single technician assembles the complete engine by hand – as witness his signature on the engine’s AMG badge.

Hmm.... the "6.3" is back....

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

I wonder when the next "6.9" will come out... they keep getting bigger and bigger

Yes. The Carlsson CLK "Club Sport" adds a supercharger to the W209 CLK55, as well as other goodies. In addition, RENNTech offers superchargers for non-supercharged cars. Kleemann is a large player in the F/I market as well.

I believe Brabus opts for higher displacement engine (6.1 liters) on the W208 and W209 CLKs, as opposed to going with forced induction. Want faster? They'll drop a V12 into a W210 or W211 (V12 TT) if you like.

You will pay handsomely for any of the above choices

At Pebble Beach last year, they had two show cars at one of the auctions we were able to sneak into. A twin turbo V-12 W220 and W211 with some crazy modifications (probably the V-12). The S600 TT modifications ran $80k alone

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k