Let's Talk Nomenclature
04-01-2014, 12:22 PM
#1
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
Let's Talk Nomenclature
Mercedes and AMG are chaffing the logical side of my brain with their inflated nomenclature.
Back in the good old days the model number closely assoicated with displacment a 300E had a 3.0L and a 260E had a 2.6. When the model didn't match the displacement they might add it such as the 190E 2.3 or the 450SEL 6.9. I figured this out before I was old enough to drive.
Now we have a C300 with a 2.0L and a C400 with a 3.0L. Come on. Now some are going turbo whine "but these are forced-induction hence the inflated #." No, the historical precedent isn't there. Look at the forced induction cars MB has produced the SLK230 had a superchaged 2.3L. The 2004 E55 had a supercharged 5.4L. MB didn't add an extra liter to the model designations.
The AMG 63's should have gone back to 55 designations when they went to 5.5L turbo (not only is it closer to actual displacement but these new 5.5L turbos are more akin to the 5.5L supercharged motors than the 6.3 NA). These new 5.5L turbos are great just like the 6.3 and the previous 5.5L superchaged before them, and there is no shame in being called an E55 CLS55 or SL55, espically if you can outrun the outgoing model.
This is all a very transparent marketing ploy. I'm done ranting for the moment.
Back in the good old days the model number closely assoicated with displacment a 300E had a 3.0L and a 260E had a 2.6. When the model didn't match the displacement they might add it such as the 190E 2.3 or the 450SEL 6.9. I figured this out before I was old enough to drive.
Now we have a C300 with a 2.0L and a C400 with a 3.0L. Come on. Now some are going turbo whine "but these are forced-induction hence the inflated #." No, the historical precedent isn't there. Look at the forced induction cars MB has produced the SLK230 had a superchaged 2.3L. The 2004 E55 had a supercharged 5.4L. MB didn't add an extra liter to the model designations.
The AMG 63's should have gone back to 55 designations when they went to 5.5L turbo (not only is it closer to actual displacement but these new 5.5L turbos are more akin to the 5.5L supercharged motors than the 6.3 NA). These new 5.5L turbos are great just like the 6.3 and the previous 5.5L superchaged before them, and there is no shame in being called an E55 CLS55 or SL55, espically if you can outrun the outgoing model.
This is all a very transparent marketing ploy. I'm done ranting for the moment.
04-01-2014, 01:19 PM
#2
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'10 F150 FX4 SCrew. '14 S212S
I wouldn't waste my time thinking about it.
No manufacturer sticks to their own rules. Pretty sure the SLK230 ended up with a 1.8 Turbo as some point.
Audi calls their motors TFSi or FSi based on market, not what is under the hood. The new S4 has 3.0T even though it is supercharged.
BMW numbers don't match displacement anymore.
The W212 E550 is called the E500 outside of North America. Same car, same engine.
Infiniti changed their entire naming scheme with no corelation to anything but order in the line up.
No manufacturer sticks to their own rules. Pretty sure the SLK230 ended up with a 1.8 Turbo as some point.
Audi calls their motors TFSi or FSi based on market, not what is under the hood. The new S4 has 3.0T even though it is supercharged.
BMW numbers don't match displacement anymore.
The W212 E550 is called the E500 outside of North America. Same car, same engine.
Infiniti changed their entire naming scheme with no corelation to anything but order in the line up.
