rhukster

Just read this on Autoblog and found it a little disturbing, and a little confusing. It seems many of you guys are tuning the heck out the M157 engine, but according to AMG it's already at its max state of tune for acceptable reliability. From the article it sounds like they would move to a 4.0 liter V8.

"Despite being a relatively new engine in the grand scheme of things, the curtain may soon close on the twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 found under the hood of many Mercedes-Benz AMG cars. Speaking to Australia's CarSales.com, AMG chief Tobias Moers said that the engine, as fitted in the 2014 S63 AMG (pictured), is at its maximum state of tune, and that more power cannot be eked out without threatening reliability. This engine produces a massive 577 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque in the new S63."

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/09/19/m...v8-going-away/

TheOtherEric

It's not clear from the article that the next E63 (supposedly in 2016) will be a hybrid 4.0L V8. You'd have to think they could up the performance of the 2016 by (a) losing a couple hundred pounds, and (b) running the S63 tuning that gives 577hp/664tq.

Seems like he's only saying the S63 is maxed out. But if the next E63 is a hybrid, I'm glad I bought a 2014!! Just say no to a 5,000 lb sedan.

vdubpower

Tobias I'm sure is right about maxing out the drivability / reliability balance. I think there was an old Chris Harris video where he the amg techs said that the engine had a little more but it come at the expense of other components.

Found it


I guess it can do a lot more until a point

AMG E Power

the M157 engine parts are all forged, plus ppl have been driving with ECU tune and downpipes making 630-650whp and over 700+ rwtq for a few years now with no problems other than spark plugs from what I have seen. you also have the turbo upgrade guys making over 700whp so it is kinda hard for me to believe, sure the engine has its limits but it seems to hold up well for all the power ppl are making modding it.
chris harris said his self that the AMG guys said it could handle 750hp no problem.
I think its just detuned from them to meet emissions, fuel economy, ETC...

otakki

I read that a couple of days ago, too. Just remember that M157 is actually based on another older MB engine. M156 is the only engine in history built from the ground up by AMG and has solid heads. I say MB should just go back to M156 and bi-turbo the 6.2L.

lunarx

Definitely bi-turbo the M156.
That would be perfect.

M159, per the Black Series SLS could work too.

However, with the 2.0L CLA engine making 355HP and being the highest HP I4 ever built (mass production).
How about a 710HP 4.0L (siamese I4) being the highest HP V8 ever built (mass production)?

2012 merc amg

It's a shame if MB stops making the TT 5.5, I think this is one of best motors every made by any MFG'R. Amazing power and efficientcy and durability.

vdubpower

yeah they better not dare call the next E amg a 63 if hey only have a 4 liter in there....

thebishman

I think it's just the realities of future fuel economy and CO2 standards that have far more to do with this than any true limitation of the actual engine. Both standards will be easier to achieve with a TT 4.0 V8 than the current 5.5.
Bish

TheOtherEric

It doesn't sound like they're moving to a TT 4.0L V8, but rather a HYBRID car with a TT 4.0L V8. It's the "hybrid" part that I have a problem with.

2012 merc amg

Ya, a battery powered AMG, that would be crazy, I'm sure gonna keep this 2012 Wagon I got in good shape for the future, I may have this car a long time.

shardul

iTrader: (1)

interesting

otakki

It certainly is not impossible having a large displacement while meeting the regulations. Look at the LaFerrari, which mates hybrid with a forced induction 6.2L engine. That's the reason I feel AMG should do something similar since the M156 is actually a newer design than the M157, which is actually based on M278, which in return is based on M273, which came out in 2004. M156 came out around 2006 and was designed to be a racing unit and has features and specifications that are unique to AMG, and thus share very little with other MB engine. That does not mean M157 is no good, but it is simply based on a regular MB design. At the same time, M156's solid cylinder head will be able to take a lot of boost given the power output shown by figures achieved by Weistec.

Anyway, just my .02.

sikm3

Too true.....if they decide to adopt KERS technology from their F1 counterparts, the result would be an absolute pig in current trim. Before KERs could even be adopted, they'd have to shed weight.

joshb63

a stock e63 p30 is definitely not "tapped out" or even near its limit of reliable performance. Amg engineers themselves have said the production cars are not close to the limit of the m157's performance. But I still believe amy will move to something smaller, which is unfortunate.

otakki

There is still possibility of it being valid since AMG has been known to pick reliability over performance. One such example is the SLS's DCT, which is the identical unit in one Ferrari's model. AMG tuned the unit for reliability, while Ferrari tuned it for maximum acceleration.