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GT/C192/R192: Cross plane vs flat plane crank - sound
AMG GT: GT, GTS, GTC, GTR, GT-4 door (C192 / R192)2024 - present: The GT/GT S is the second generation GT sports car developed entirely in-house by Mercedes-AMG.
I'm familiar with both engines and love the sound of both. Looks like AMG is going towards flat plane crank in the future (not sure about AMG GT series). Which do you prefer in the AMG GT lineup and why? Working on a deal for 2025 GT55 and wanted input on the current engine. Thanks much!
Yes, the new V8 is a flat plane. It's coming out in the new GLE 63 and GLS 63 first and will find its way to all the other V8 AMGs. The CLE 63 is expected to be next and the GT will also get it. Not sure what's gonna happen to the SL. The SL is getting repositioned, because it didn't do well as an AMG only, so they've said they are going back to the more comfortable grand tourer type that the previous SL was, softer than what it is now. The SL Maybach found more interest among customers, so that softer more luxurious cruiser is gonna get applied to the regular SL as well.
Flat plane is not a first for AMG. The Black Series M178 LS2 is flat plane and this new V8 is based on it. It will likely have a lot of sound pumped into the cabin through the speakers just like the Black Series had, because on the outside it doesn't sound like much. Not that the current GT doesn't already have lots of sound pumped into the cabin. What I like about flat plane crank is that it's more rev happy. I curious how it improves the shifts and the revs will drop and climb faster with the flat plane, so the transmission can yank the gears in quicker. Not that the current 9-MCT is slow, but you can feel that at times it's waiting on the engine to catch up.
I truly enjoyed the screaming nature of the Black Series from behind the steering wheel, but hearing it go by was rather underwhelming. Here's a comparison between the GT R, GT Black Series and the GT 63 from behind the wheel. GT R was when I was at Laguna Seca and the Black Series I drove on the Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit, and the GT 63 at the Mercedes testing facility in Immendingen.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and the videos!! I think I prefer the cross plane sound in the AMG GT. I have listened to many C8 ZO6 vids and really like the flat plane crank sound in that car. I might just be conditioned to that more throaty sound of cross plane!!
I generally do, too. It's more exotic sounding as Ferrari and such use flat plane cranks. I do prefer it in conjunction with high revving engines such as in the ZO6. The Black Series doesn't have that 8600+ screaming redline, neither will the upcoming models unless AMG pulls a surprise. It's just a bit of a shame that on the outside the BS sounds nothing like this. It sounds more like a vacuum cleaner.
Last edited by superswiss; Jun 18, 2026 at 07:42 PM.
I have the luxury of having both--- the GT63 (and many prior variants of the M177/78 engine) and to me as an owner; there is nothing more aurally pleasing than my C8Z FPC... its a master class in a high reving, soul attacking sound. Yes when I get out of that car and drive the GT63 I am smiles as well but its not the spine tingling effect. Of course one has to be an 8/10ths driver or more to wring out the Z in most occasions to get the incredible sound. I am on my 2nd C8Z for this very reason. Its not a car for a cruiser kind of person but Ill be damned on how it extracts my desire to push the car.
This is not even at 8500 rpms, not even close
Of course this is modded with Kline but its just more of a good thing aka OEM
Yeah, flat planes sound more exotic, race carish (if such a word existed), while cross plane is all muscle car. Both sound great for what they are. But I read that Mercedes is trying to replicate the cross-plane sound by some quirky engine management, which to me is a mistake. They need to just leave it alone and let it sound as it is intended to sound.
Yeah, the sound is primarily determined by the firing order. The fundamental difference that makes flat plane sound different is that the firing order is strictly alternating between the left and right banks. Most cross planes fire some cylinders sequentially on the same bank, which is what creates the muscle car rumble. I haven't heard that they are trying to make it sound more like a cross plane. Not entirely sure how they would even accomplish that naturally. The exact firing order depends on how the manufacturer numbers the cylinders and changes the valve timing etc., so yes there's a degree of freedom that they can experiment with.
Last edited by superswiss; Jun 18, 2026 at 09:08 PM.
I have the luxury of having both--- the GT63 (and many prior variants of the M177/78 engine) and to me as an owner; there is nothing more aurally pleasing than my C8Z FPC... its a master class in a high reving, soul attacking sound. Yes when I get out of that car and drive the GT63 I am smiles as well but its not the spine tingling effect. Of course one has to be an 8/10ths driver or more to wring out the Z in most occasions to get the incredible sound. I am on my 2nd C8Z for this very reason. Its not a car for a cruiser kind of person but Ill be damned on how it extracts my desire to push the car.
This is not even at 8500 rpms, not even close
Of course this is modded with Kline but its just more of a good thing aka OEM
I figured you would chime in as I remember you owing both of these cars. I've looked at buying both of these cars as well, and seems like I can't pass up the GT55 opportunity! Thanks for your feedback!
BTW, that Kline exhaust sounds great and fits in so well with the ZO6!!
I figured you would chime in as I remember you owing both of these cars. I've looked at buying both of these cars as well, and seems like I can't pass up the GT55 opportunity! Thanks for your feedback!
BTW, that Kline exhaust sounds great and fits in so well with the ZO6!!
You cant go wrong with either sound... the two Z06's are my first domestic cars Ive EVER bought = EVER. Im German thru and thru.
Regarding the sound signature for the new M177 EVO FPC V8 for AMG applications this patent was made public some time ago.
So this would suggest they are looking at ways of extracting a better sound (other than enhanced in cabin pumped in sound) than the usual muffled note that comes with forced induction (turbo) FPC V8's.
This is not entirely new as Ford have done several developments to this end with their Voodoo V8's, having developed a specific FPC to generate a distinctive sound.
Speaking for myself I prefer the cross plane sound/rumble/bass more so than FPC but in saying that I'm comparing to forced induction FPC, N/A FPC are on almost par in sound enjoyment to my ears.
Looking forward to the AMG's new V8
Awfully synthetic sounding, is it just me? I first thought I was watching a video game. Sounds like it's coming from a gaming console. When switching drive modes there's definitely something synthetic about the sound.
Awfully synthetic sounding, is it just me? I first thought I was watching a video game. Sounds like it's coming from a gaming console. When switching drive modes there's definitely something synthetic about the sound.
Sounds like the old AMG 43/53 6-cylinders with the muted and almost artificial sounding pops/burbles
need to hear it in person, I guess I am just grateful that MB still has V8 and that meets the newest Euro 7 while also keeping similar power figures (for the GLE 63 S). I could had been greedy and asked for more horsepower I guess.
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