'Green' twin turbo V8 on AMG's agenda

When AMG says it's going green, there might have been reason for concern -- if you're a petrolhead anyway...

But fear not, the company's 'greening' will not impinge on its position on performance, says Director of Vehicle Development, Tobias Moers.

According to Moers, the Mercedes-Benz go-fast arm is seeking to optimise its powerplants and drive systems, not trim power or torque outputs. They will do so, he says after "examining many possible engine and drivetrain scenarios".

Once such scenario affects the company's bespoke 6.2-litre V8. Dubbed the M156, the high-revving engine is fitted to a range of '63' models in power outputs of up to 386kW. It effectively replaced the supercharged '55' V8 and is not available in any non-AMG Mercedes models.

In the future, the engine could be seen in a number of greener, yet no less powerful guises, it seems.

"Forced induction is again an option," Moers told the Carsales Network.

"It would, however, be turbocharged. Supercharging is not the correct method with this engine," he explained.

According to Moers, a twin turbo installation could be used in conjunction with a reduction in capacity and other fuel saving technologies (such as auto start-stop and generator and oil pump management) to produce a powerplant that matches the performance potential of the 63 series, but at a substantial fuel saving.

Though he would not be drawn on exact capacity, 5.5-litre capacity is expected to be close to the mark. Moers said powerplant would use relatively modest levels of boost and also feature direct fuel-injection -- a first for AMG.

But the M156 engine development program will be just one of the directions AMG pursues, he explained.

"We will look at every possibility," Moers said reiterating AMG boss Volker Mornhinweg's Geneva announcement that the performance arm would undertake a study of green performance alternatives including mild and plug-in hybrid applications.

Diesels too could be part of the plan, confirmed Moers.

 "Our [previous C-Class C30] diesel was the best selling model we ever had in some markets like Spain, Portugal, France and the like...

"It [a future AMG diesel] would have to have a different displacement or number of cylinders [than the Mercedes engines] -- [we'd need] perhaps up to 80hp difference.

"But in the end we can create a diesel, that is a true AMG engine. No doubt," he said.

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