Friday 5th March 2010

AMG Revives The 'Red Pig'

Spirit of classic racer invoked to promote latest AMG V8

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The original Red Pig racer

Fabulous as Mercedes AMG's Affalterbach facility just outside Stuttgart is, all factory tours have a tendency to sag towards the end. So, almost exactly half way through ours, the assembled media is promised a 'very big surprise' to end the day.

We're here, (on the eve of the Geneva Show), ostensibly to learn about AMG's new 5.5-litre direct-injected, twin-turbo V8. Better than that, we'll see it being assembled in the time-honoured one man-one engine AMG way.

It's called the M157 and makes its debut in the S-Class, replacing the S63's normally-aspirated 6.2-litre unit. The potent new motor, which comes with 544 or 571bhp (the so-called Performance Pack Plus version) will be phased in to replace the current generation M156/M159 V8s over the next two years.

AMG F1 pace car on the eve of the show

Actually, the walk-around is fairly spellbinding. Casually parked up in one corner is the SLS Safety Car that will lead out this year's F1 field in Bahrain, in another a powder blue SL with six exhaust pipes. As we stroll towards the the engine production line a 5-tonne G-Wagon with 2-inch thick glass almost blocks our path. It's hard not to be impressed.
But it's when dry ice starts to swirl rounds the large black doors of the refreshments marquee we've been ushered into that the penny begins to drop.

One of the prize turntable exhibits is a replica of the legendary 1971 racing 300SEL 6.3 (but really 6.8 with 420bhp) that won the Nurburgring 24 hours and is affectionately known as the Red Pig. As the doors slide apart and the floor begins to shake to the bassy burble of a large, lightly-silenced V8, the game's up.

And the new Red Pig - sort of...

The very first S-Class to be powered by the new M157 engine is a red S-Class with blistered arches, a stripped out and caged cabin and a full complement of precisely replicated sponsorship stickers. It doesn't look or sound anything like as mean as the original Red Pig, but it's certainly a tougher look for the S-Class.

Naturally Red Pig 2 packs the 571bhp PP+ motor and, with 664 lb ft of torque to back it up, AMG's 0-62mph claim of 4.3sec seems entirely credible. If a little academic.

The homage was turned from idea to rumbling reality in three weeks flat for this very factory tour finale. Unlike the SLS pace car it wasn't wheeled off to an empty slot on the Mercedes stand at the Geneva show, and no one really knows when or if it will be seen again.

[Ginger goblin]

Is the driver in the bottom left picture a midget?

Edited by Ginger goblin on Friday 5th March 11:43

[Gun]

Ginger goblin said:

Is the driver in the bottom left picture a midget?

Edited by Ginger goblin on Friday 5th March 11:43

No, he's just very far away.

[pSyCoSiS]

That original Red Pig looks like a proper raw machine.

And the new S Class Red Pig also looks stuninng.

So, AMG is moving away from their 'Kompressor' engines then?

[AV12]

Some of us may have slated BMW for the twin turbo V8s, but, ultimately Mercedes and Audi are going this way.

I like this S-Class

[Richiefly]

'Casually parked up in one corner....' isn't this akin to Hans Solo telling Chewbacca to 'fly casual'? (also a true story)

Can you park casually?

Anyway, adore the rare sound of an AMG Mercedes driving past me, there's a local one that's been treated to the matt vinyl look in red (not good) but sounds absolutely glorious, almost spitfiresque.

Edited by Richiefly on Friday 5th March 12:01

[LukeBird]

Awesome stuff!

ETA & !!!

Edited by LukeBird on Friday 5th March 12:12

[Gridl0k]

More like a Messerschmidt, as AMG would never, ever confirm....

[dougc]

[Spokey]

dougc said:

Not just: "Get out of my way, little man" but: "Get the fk out of my way, little man"

[Richiefly]

Apparently the original car is just visible with the naked eye from the moon when all lights are shining brightly.

[soad]

Nice motors.

[Craiglamuffin]

Aside from us knowledgable PH sorts who know all about 1971 Red Pigs... surely there's nobody else on the planet who will "get this"?

With all the stickers the new version looks like a Gumball Rally car that's got lost!

[YAD061]

looks like its eyes just dropped out

[dougc]

Still prefer this one

[Luca Brasi]

Shame big N/A engines are disappearing.

[Gridl0k]

I blame Polar Bears.

[Snoggledog]

I rather like the original. It has a sort of Thor's Hammer look to it.

[Matt UK]

Ginger goblin said:

Is the driver in the bottom left picture a midget?

No, the car he is driving is a giant!

[Turbobanana]

almost spitfiresque.

Supermarine, or Triumph?

[gt2homas]

dougc said:

Still prefer this one

That, as far as I'm concerned, is true car pornography!

I love the three pointed star, in almost all guises, but this is one that is on my perfect 10 car garage.