Mercedes is not saying goodbye to the internal combustion engine: the powerful V8 and V12 engines remain in service
While some carmakers are consigning petrol and diesel engines to history, Mercedes-Benz has decided to go the other way. The German brand not only keeps internal combustion engines (ICE) in its line-up, but also continues to improve them.
Here's What We Know
At the last annual press conference, the Stuttgart-based carmaker announced under the slogan "Transformation Management" additional measures to reduce costs and expand the range of models with petrol and diesel engines. We are no longer talking about an all-electric model range in the foreseeable future.
Autobild has revealed further details of the plan. The big news for fans of the classics is that the 6.0-litre V12 biturbo engine will not disappear. Mercedes will retain it in the Maybach S 680 and the armoured S-Class Guard, although it will only be available in selected markets.
This leaves Mercedes as the only German manufacturer still producing a 12-cylinder engine. BMW ceased production of the V12 in 2022, while Audi abandoned the W12 back in 2017. Mercedes V12 engines will even continue to be supplied to Italy's Pagani for the Utopia hypercar.
AMG is working to develop a new V8
The V12 is all about luxury, but the V8 is the soul of Mercedes-AMG. And there's news here too: the AMG division is developing a new electrified V8 that will meet strict Euro 7 environmental regulations.
What will happen to the rest of the internal combustion engines?
In-line six-cylinder engine - Mercedes has not officially confirmed its fate, but it appears to remain in production.
A four-cylinder 1.5-litre motor with a 48-volt 'mild hybrid' system will debut soon in the new CLA, where it will be paired with an eight-speed DCT transmission.
Mercedes-Benz GLS63 AMG (2024). Illustration: Mercedes-Benz
Just a few years ago, Mercedes was planning a full transition to electric vehicles by 2030 - "wherever possible from a market perspective." But the company now believes that by 2027, 70 per cent of customers will still opt for internal combustion engine cars and 48-volt hybrids, with electric cars and plug-in hybrids accounting for only 30 per cent of sales. Thus, the large-scale electrification of Mercedes is postponed - at least as long as demand for conventional engines remains high.
The management of the Mercedes-Benz Vans division has also come to a similar conclusion. Instead of a complete transition to a new platform VAN.EA, designed specifically for electric cars, the development of another platform VAN.CA (Van Combustion Architecture) for commercial models with internal combustion engines has begun.
Source: Autobild
