Random Q: Why did MB not Supercharge its V12's?
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Bloomington, IN
1997 Toyota Tacoma 4x4
Could have been for a number of reasons. Space limitations, emissions certifications, volumetric efficiency (maybe the supercharger couldn't produce the boost needed for 12 cylinders like 2 turbos can).
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Orlando
CLS55
Originally posted by HITMAN
I have looked under the hood of a s600 it is tight in there....What an amazing sight though
I have looked under the hood of a s600 it is tight in there....What an amazing sight though
I'm sure there are SC's that produce more boost than those 2 turbo's put together. just my thought
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Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Manchester, UK
Mercedes-Benz A170 CDI
The simple answer is efficiency.
The Supercharger in the V8 Kompressor motor consumers 91bhp under peak loading. Fuel consmption and engine longevity is of paramount concern for a Mercedes, and supercharging is not the ideal solution.
The 5.5 AMG V8 is quite an old engine and itself uses SOHC and 2/3? valves per cylinder. The best way to obtain power and instant response from this engine was to supercharge it. This had already worked wonders for MB's 3.2 V6K engine so it was only natural to do so for the large V8. The cylinder limit for this type of old MB engine is 6.1 L.
The new V12 engines are more modern and efficient than the 55K's engines. You can get better fuel economy from an SL600 vs SL55. Anyways, AMG needed to produce a V12 of their own, hence the 65 engine was born. Proven mechanicals of the Maybach type 12 engine made an AMG version relatively easy to produce, and the result is a masterpiece.
As a result of the high fuel consumption and "slightly" unnatural response of the 55K, AMG plans to replace the engine with an all new 4 valve per cylinder, DOHC, N/A 6.3 V8 with 500bhp and 600NM, which it is already producing on the engine dyno. WIth Aston Martin's Vanquish rumoured to get a power boost, and the new 575 replacement with near 600bhp, AMG just might turbocharge this engine to 600bhp+....watch this space for more speculation...
The Supercharger in the V8 Kompressor motor consumers 91bhp under peak loading. Fuel consmption and engine longevity is of paramount concern for a Mercedes, and supercharging is not the ideal solution.
The 5.5 AMG V8 is quite an old engine and itself uses SOHC and 2/3? valves per cylinder. The best way to obtain power and instant response from this engine was to supercharge it. This had already worked wonders for MB's 3.2 V6K engine so it was only natural to do so for the large V8. The cylinder limit for this type of old MB engine is 6.1 L.
The new V12 engines are more modern and efficient than the 55K's engines. You can get better fuel economy from an SL600 vs SL55. Anyways, AMG needed to produce a V12 of their own, hence the 65 engine was born. Proven mechanicals of the Maybach type 12 engine made an AMG version relatively easy to produce, and the result is a masterpiece.
As a result of the high fuel consumption and "slightly" unnatural response of the 55K, AMG plans to replace the engine with an all new 4 valve per cylinder, DOHC, N/A 6.3 V8 with 500bhp and 600NM, which it is already producing on the engine dyno. WIth Aston Martin's Vanquish rumoured to get a power boost, and the new 575 replacement with near 600bhp, AMG just might turbocharge this engine to 600bhp+....watch this space for more speculation...
