AMG still developing Hyprex
Troublesome forced-induction system holds up work on four-cylinder B-Class-based sedanAMG's engine boffins are racing against time to perfect its first four-cylinder engine before the launch of its baby sedan, based around the next B-Class, in two years.
Technical problems with its radical Hyprex forced-induction system have forced the Benz hotshop to shift its attention to a twin-scroll, turbo-charging system to crank out AMG-style, rubber-burning power for its small sedan.
Stuffed into a car that will look a lot like last year's Geneva Motor Show concept stunner from Mercedes-Benz (pictured), the turbo four pot will blast to 100km/h in under five seconds.
"If we make it fast enough with the right sound, traditional AMG buyers won't worry too much that it's only four cylinders," AMG boss, Ola Kaellenius, insisted.
Yet AMG is refusing to abandon the controversial Hyprex system, despite two major development headaches.
"We have to really, really hurry with this twin-scroll turbo now, though," AMG R&D boss, Freidrich Eichner, said.
"But we have a parallel program running with Hyprex, so we will continue to develop it, but now we won't have it in production before 2013.
"We will make it work, though, because the problems are not insurmountable and we are convinced there are enormous benefits."
Hyprex is a development of the original Comprex concept, which was belt-driven off the crankshaft and used exhaust-pressure pulses to force air into the inlet chamber, creating a more-powerful and cleaner combustion process.
AMG rejected the idea of the Comprex unit's mechanical losses and, instead, uses an 800 Watt electric motor to drive its Hyprex unit, which is basically a canister that redirects pulses of exhaust pressure to force feed air into the engine.
But AMG insiders have said development is being held up by two problems.
"The first is when the catalyst temperature goes under 600 degrees, it does not work properly and creates too many emissions," our source said.
"The second is that if the exhaust gases mix with the fresh air in the exhaust, then there is a bang and the Hyprex is not working anymore."
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