Wednesday 21st January 2015

AMG set to phase out 5.5-litre V8

Confirmation that AMG will move all models from next year onto the new 4.0-litre engine

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It seems like only yesterday that AMG introduced the twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre V8 engine that currently powers all of its larger models. Actually, it was 2011, which means - as the modern car industry seems to measure powerplant programmes in dog years - we probably shouldn't be surprised it's set to be phased out.

E63S was one of the best applications

According to Autocar, AMG is planning to replace the twin turbocharged 5.5-litre M157 V8 with the smaller and cleaner 4.0-litre M178 V8 that we've already seen in the Mercedes-AMG GT and which will also be used in the forthcoming C63. The smaller engine is more economical and better on CO2; the move to put it into bigger models also gives tacit acknowledgement that it can be boosted to deliver more than the 503hp it produces in the GT S.

A couple more derivatives of existing models will get the 5.5-litre engine - it will be going into the GLE Coupe and the forthcoming S-Class cabrio - and then it will be progressively replaced by the smaller motor as new models arrive; possibly reaching some existing ones during mid-life refreshes.

And one more look for old time's sake

At risk of turning this into a geekfest about Mercedes engine codes, it's fair to say that the M157 won't be missed as much as the M156 - the naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 that powered the previous generation C63 (and which in reworked M159 guise drove the SLS). Yet the twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre engine has propelled some of our favourite fast Mercs of the last few years as well, and it's never been short on character - the current E63 S wagon stands out as a particularly good application. We'll miss it.

Source: Autocar

 

[vescaegg]

Its a beast of an engine but I dont think it'll be missed like the 6.2 NA. That engine was amazing.

[moffat]

It's also the tuning potential of the M157 that will be missed, not sure the 4.0 will reach the same peak.

[thepyrrhonist]

I see they skipped the M158 engine designation.

Because that would mean they'd be using the 6-litre, twin turbo, V12 engine out of the Huayra.

I'd fancy that in a C-class

[Mosdef]

Hopefully the newer 4 litre engine will recapture some of the characteristics of the M156, i.e have proper throttle response and a more exciting top end. The 5.5 has just been a bit of a blunt instrument in my view.

[mikeg15]

It doesn't even look like an engine - more a Transformers entrails.

[Theophany]

Won't miss it as much as the supercharged M113. That more of a hyperdrive than an engine.

[J B L]

Is that 4.0L the one that will be in future Aston Martins?

[P4ROT]

The old supercharged 5.5l engine was the one I really mourned.

[fastgerman]

Buy an SL63 while they're cheap(ish) :-)

[BIRMA]

P4ROT said:

The old supercharged 5.5l engine was the one I really mourned.

I agree I tried a CL with it in and the sound that accompanied you as you squirrelled down the road at 6 MPG was something to behold and to cherish.

[Lyons]

Yep, its a good time to squirrel away something with a nice inefficient V8. If you extrapolate this, the future looks very dull:

2005 - M156 - 6.2L NA V8
2011 - M157 - 5.5L TT V8
2016 - M158 - 4.0L TT V8
...
2021 - M1?? - 2.5L TT V6 + electric motors
2026 - M1?? - 1.0L Range extender + More electric motors
2031 - ???? - Just electric motors and a large bill from E.ON


Might not exactly be right, but I guess not far from the truth. My as yet to be conceived offspring will quite possibly never own a petrol engine car from new. This site will need to change its name too - Pistons > ?

They’ll have to prise my N/A V8 from my cold dead hands …!

[DaveR]

J B L said:

Is that 4.0L the one that will be in future Aston Martins?

I'm sure that's what the story was in the middle of last year. Nothing much seems to have been said since.

[Sampaio]

Lyons said:

Yep, its a good time to squirrel away something with a nice inefficient V8. If you extrapolate this, the future looks very dull:

2005 - M156 - 6.2L NA V8
2011 - M157 - 5.5L TT V8
2016 - M158 - 4.0L TT V8
...
2021 - M1?? - 2.5L TT V6 + electric motors
2026 - M1?? - 1.0L Range extender + More electric motors
2031 - ???? - Just electric motors and a large bill from E.ON


Might not exactly be right, but I guess not far from the truth. My as yet to be conceived offspring will quite possibly never own a petrol engine car from new. This site will need to change its name too - Pistons > ?

They’ll have to prise my N/A V8 from my cold dead hands …!

Come on, they stopped making air-cooled 911s 17 years ago and people still drive them around :P (and will keep driving them in the future)

Funny how that 2026 you imagine is pretty much the description of a 2015 BMW i8 (admittedly with a 1.5L and not a 1.0L), maybe that future is closer than we think!

[Atmospheric]

Awful news.

I bet the Americans aren't doing that.

Have you seen the V8s available from GM?

http://www.chevrolet.com/performance/crate-engines...

There is a light!

[chungasarnies]

It's hardly awful news. I can't see the 5.5 being particularly missed, and I bet the 4.0 will perform just as well in each instance. They're still offering a V8, is the point, I think.

[aeropilot]

Atmospheric said:

Awful news.

I bet the Americans aren't doing that.

Have you seen the V8s available from GM?

http://www.chevrolet.com/performance/crate-engines...

There is a light!

Nope, you've misunderstood the difference between factory fitted and aftermarket crate engines.

The Americans are downsizing and removing V8's, or rather they will be by next year with the new CAFE regs coming into effect, and more so when the next gen even more strict CAFE regs take effect next decade.
The modern Hemi in the Challenger/Charger is expected to die end of this year, and the rumour is the supercharged Ford and Chevy engine may also die along with.
Roumour is that it's highly likely that the current Corvette may well be the last V8 'vette.

[DJRC]

Ahem chaps...they do also offer the 5.5 in NA mode. I can confirm it bellows, snorts and revs like a lunatic bd giving Thor the butt fking of a lifetime. And returns 31mpg! And loses traction in any of it's first 3 forward gears.

[Welshbeef]

P4ROT said:

The old supercharged 5.5l engine was the one I really mourned.

I've not driven a quicker car on the road the noise the surge - the car I should have bought E55 K AMG

[TheAllSeeingPie]

Welshbeef said:

P4ROT said:

The old supercharged 5.5l engine was the one I really mourned.

I've not driven a quicker car on the road the noise the surge - the car I should have bought E55 K AMG

This is why I bought one as a daily driver after they dropped to under 10k for high mileage examples. Mines done 130k miles and still can spin the wheels in the dry if you're lead footed. It's always been my fave combing the rumbly noise of an AMG V8 along with the low down torque of a diesel. Shame they do suffer from heat soak if you thrash them a lot, but then again that's mostly mitigated with a simple coolant pump change.

[Terminator X]

I don't give a fk about CO2, why can't we have both small and large engines

TX.