Why doesn't BMW supercharge their engines make the race more interesting
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The Best of Mercedes & AMG
On a track, with the right transmission, a car can be driven hard and the RPM's kept high... right in the BMW's power range. On the street, the enormous torque of the AMG engines will feel more powerful.
High torque has a much different feel than high horsepower.
The real reason that the M5/M6 can keep up with the more powerful AMG engines, is weight. The BMW's are lighter. The CL is a pretty hefty car.
You have to also remember that this supercharging/turbocharging by Mercedes is a relatively new thing. It is happening because the technology has improved enough in turbos and especially in superchargers to where MB considers them usable. Just 5 years ago this wasn't happening in the AMG camp anymore than it is happening now in the BMW camp.
As far as powerband is concerned, It is essentially to do with the linear and less torque characteristics of the M5 engine. Due to less torque and making it very linear throughout the engine's powerband, the M5's ability to exploit it is more easier.
Due to the torque characteristics of supercharged engines, the vast majority are also very linear in torque curves and consummate of what a regular 6500rpm max engine, if N/A would produce, the difference lies in the amount of torque. Since the torque curve of a Kompressor engine follows the torque chracteristcs of a normally aspirated engine, just more of it, it is fallacy to call the 55K's "inadequate" on the track in this respect. If anything, it is the lack of gears, the low final ratio and the handling (suspension/tyres/weight) that deems the cars inadequate. Long gearing don't help on the track when engine braking is so vital. With Mercedes' 5-Speeds, the downshfting is hard and mostly 2nd gear is used for the vast majority of corners, whereas with other concentrated purists's car with more gears are probably using 2nd/3rd or even 4th...
The lack of the M5's torque must also be put to rest, once and for all. Due to the shortfall in torque of that V10 vs a 55 Kompressor, not of the engine itself, and with such a high redline to produce its power, the M5 can make full use of quicker gearing, and with 7 ratios, and pretty high final drive will result. The single most important benefit of this, is that quicker gearing multiplies the torque output of any engine. Therefore, the M5 has as much torque if not more going to the wheels than the 55K... Think of it as the "1st gear" effect throughout each gear. See how the M5 is quicker now?
Conclusion: BMW/Ferrari/Lamborghini may be forced to use F/I to achieve high power, but in the current climate, only something extremely stupid like a 700hp AMG engine will make them do so.....
So it shouldn't be that long. There is nothing stopping the rest from doing what MB has done. The difference is, a 600hp CL/S/SL at 150GBP will sell, wheras an equivalent or more powerful BMW will not. AMG built the 65 not for bragging rights, albeit they come automatically from making the torquiest car in the world, instead they built it because they can., I don't think BMW could do the same and sell their cars. I know BMW fans will not like this, take a look at the M1, if sales of the M6 are successful then this assumption is rebbutable







