Alright, from what I've gathered so far, the new V6s to replace the older V6s to keep i competition with the discplacment and power of those compared to BMW, Mercedes is going to have the a 3.0 Direct Injection V6 with 231hp, and a 3.6 V6 having 258hp. I haven't heard what the displacement or horespower rating will be for the smaller V6 engine used int he C-class cars, However one could expect a 2.6 with around 190hp.

Now it seems the 4.3 is being eliminated. The ML500 has already replaced the ML430, the CLK430 will be replaced when redesigned based upon the new w203 chasis, and will only use V6 engines. It seems the S430 will get exed as well, and only have the 5.0. Word is a year after, that will also get direct injection to augment the 5.0s to compete with BMW's 4.4l V8 330hp. Now its also no surprise that BMW has the 4.6 that was to appear in the X5 Hi output pushing about 350hp. This engine is said to replace the 4.4 soon.

The new M-class are suppose to be unibody, just becuase not many go off-road, and the weight savings would help MB's SUB lower costs a little, but more importantly perform much better and go head to head with BMW's x5.

No doubt MB is going to replace the aged E-class as well. Engines are probably going to match BMW's, with an entry E300, E360, and E500.

Now the question is I guess, will the AMG versions in the near future use the 3.6s with the same charger technology used, and transmission wise, even though the AMG tuned trannys are lighting quick, it will soon be one gear short of the competition. Now we all know AMG has tuned the 5.8 V12 to the tune of 6.3l but they still use the 5-speed auto. I know the new Maybachs have a twin turbo V12, and supposedly a 6-speed auto as well, is this a good source for the new tranny to come?

Another question is going to be, when is this all coming, and how much do you think the price is going to go up. We all know a 3-series coupe is much cheaper then the CLK coupe, can we expect MB to get more competitive w/o sacrificing whatever quality they have left and still not increase the price?

__________________
Chirag (Charlie) Patel
--------------------------------------------
- 03 Mercedes S600 Sport TTV12
- 97 Acura NSX-T
- 99 BMW E36 M3 w/500+ HP
- 04 Lexus RX330
- 04 Dodge Dakota Quad 4x4 V8

4 Sale:
- 99 BMW M3 E36 Coup with Dinan SC, Upgraded to an RMS Stage 3 with Aftercooler, 12psi, and 500+hp @ flywheel.

I'm really, really excited about the new direct injection engines that MB is working on.

First off, I read in automobile magazine that MB will use 3 different V-6 supercharged engines in the upcoming all new SLK. The higher model (not the AMG model, the SLK320 of the future) might use a 2.7L supercharged V-6 with 258 HP with direct injection. I have also heard that they will just use a 3.6 liter V-6 like you mentioned.
First MB will use direct injection with the 4 cylinder engines in the cars in Europe, then introduce the V-6's, V-8's then the V-12. They never really gave the 420/430 engines more HP, and other car companies are getting really competitive with their engine's of the same size (new BMW 745i 330 HP out of a 4.5 liter V-8, and that new infiniti with a 340 horse 4.5 liter V-8) so MB is just not gonna use that engine any more. But when they update the S500 engine, I think they need to get power up to around 360.

Oh I also read the next AMG V-6 is going to be 3 liters and supercharged with around 375 HP. So we will see what happens there. Also, I think around the time MB updates these engines, they will probably also update the transmissions to 6-speed autos.

Also, it is rumored that MB is switching to double overhead cams with 4 valve heads, like their engines were before.

So it sounds like the 3 new V6 direct-injections will displace 2.7, 3.0 and 3.6. We kind of know the new 3.6 is suppose to get blown and see duty in AMG's line of cars since the actual weight wouldn't increase that much, in having a bigger V6 could only help off-the line accelerationa nd low end torque.

Another assumption is the 5.4l V8 that AMG uses. It might make production standards as its sandard V8. Its currently the base engine in the SLR, is seeing duty in the SL55 Kompressor AMG, so maybe it will update all the v8 lines with added power from Direct Injection, and the AMG line get blown like Jag's are starting to do or take the new V12s in the upper range like SLs, CLs, and S-class.

So the AMG 3.6 goes in everything on the lower end. (C, CLK, SLK)
The AMG 5.5l V8 kompressor in the mids (E, MLs)
The AMG 6.3 V12 kompressor (from the maybach, SL, S, CL)

So we can only hope :p

__________________
Chirag (Charlie) Patel
--------------------------------------------
- 03 Mercedes S600 Sport TTV12
- 97 Acura NSX-T
- 99 BMW E36 M3 w/500+ HP
- 04 Lexus RX330
- 04 Dodge Dakota Quad 4x4 V8

4 Sale:
- 99 BMW M3 E36 Coup with Dinan SC, Upgraded to an RMS Stage 3 with Aftercooler, 12psi, and 500+hp @ flywheel.

Here are some spy pics of the new CLK : http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=4310&sid=178&n=156

It says that together with the new E-class, the CLK will be the first car to get the all new direct-injection inline-4. The introduction will be at the Geveva Motor show which is in March.

They are going to use a 2.4 direct injection in the c-class. That's why they are calling the current C class a C240, even though it has a 2.6. They didn't think anyone would want to buy a 240 if they could get a one year old 260 (this is people who don't know anything about cars other than what number is on the back - and the bigger it is the better).

__________________
Jason Priest
1999 E430
1995 E420 - retired
1986 420SEL - retired