Mercedes-AMG Showcases 604-Horsepower V12 Engine
TORONTO, ON – Mercedes-AMG, the high-performance division of Mercedes-Benz, has developed the most powerful engine ever installed in a production car. The six-litre twin-turbo V12 powers the 2006-model SL65 AMG roadster, CL65 AMG coupe and S65 AMG sedan. Developing 604 horsepower, the limited-production V12 models can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in a breathtaking 4.4 seconds, and their potential top speed is significantly higher than the 250 km/h of their electronic speed limiters.
Perhaps more important in everyday driving than sheer horsepower is the twin-turbo's enormous peak torque of 738 lb.-ft., available on a wide plateau from 2,000 to 4,000 rpm.
A Major Boost for Mercedes V12 Power
The standard 5,439-cc Mercedes-Benz V12 engine has been enlarged by installing a special crankshaft that increases the piston stroke from 87 to 93 millimeters. With larger heat-resistant forged pistons (up from 80 to 82.6 mm) as well, the AMG 12-cylinder now displaces 5,980 cubic centimeters, or about 365 cubic inches.
To provide more fuel and air for the larger engine, new AMG camshafts provide higher intake valve lift and longer opening duration, and fuel injectors with larger orifices are used in conjunction with higher fuel pressure – 3.8 bar or 54 pounds per square inch. What's more, larger turbochargers pack more air into the cylinders, with maximum turbocharger boost now set at 1.5 bar (22 psi).
Hot V12 Engine Stays Cool
Air that's pressurized by the turbochargers gets hot as a result, so it’s circulated through a special water-cooled intercooler before entering the engine. A dedicated radiator for the intercooler is 70 percent larger, resulting in intake air temperatures that run about 25 percent cooler than the standard engine.
The denser intake air plays a major role in increasing the engine's horsepower and torque. All this additional power means a lot more heat, so new oil jets in the aluminium block spray more oil onto the underside of each piston. A larger oil cooler complements a larger oil pump, which circulates more cooling oil throughout the engine
One Man, One Engine – Individual Hand Craftsmanship
Technicians at Mercedes-AMG build every engine by hand, ensuring the closest possible tolerances. Individual workmanship and skill count here: each technician is responsible for a complete engine, from the installation of the crankshaft in the engine block to the assembly of the camshafts as well as a wire harness and oil fill-up. Each completed engine is affixed with a plaque signed by the technician who built it and is bench-tested to ensure maximum performance.
About Mercedes-Benz Canada
Mercedes-Benz Canada is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of the three brands within the Mercedes Car Group in Canada; Mercedes-Benz, smart, and Maybach. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Mercedes-Benz Canada employs approximately 900 people in 22 locations across Canada. Through a nationwide network of 18 Mercedes-Benz owned retail operations and 35 authorized dealerships, Mercedes-Benz Canada sold 15,790 vehicles in 2005, the best year ever reported for Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc.
For more information, visit our media site at www.media.mercedes-benz.ca or contact us at:
JoAnne Caza 416-847-7550 caza@mercedes-benz.ca
Arden Nerling 416-847-7556 nerling@mercedes-benz.ca
