In April, US publication Car and Driver reported that Affalterbach could be ending production of the bent-twelve in light of ever tightening emissions regulations and fuel consumption requirement.
Speaking to Australia’s goauto.com.au at the Paris Motor Show this past week, AMG boss Tobias Moers said while the brand’s V8 motor will continue for the foreseeable future, the 6.0-litre bi-turbo V12 used in the S-class and its AMG as well as Maybach derivatives, will not be carried over when the current W222 generation is replaced by the already spotted W223 in 2020.
“So we are going to move the S65 out of our portfolio. The V8 is a pretty efficient engine. In combination with an electrified powertrain, it could be a longer lifecycle than what everybody thinks,” Moers said, adding that everything boils down to constant development in order to keep up with current trends.
“Nobody in the industry is able to predict the V8 engine ends, say, in 2028 – that’s impossible. It is all about how clever are you as a company, to put the money in. And it should not be a bet – it should be a well-prepared strategy. I am not so confident with having a 10-year plan and strategy because the world we live in is too fast. So you have to adjust your strategy and your targets almost every year – half a year”.
Based on claims by the publication, the likely replacement for the V12 will come in the form of the 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 used in a variety of standard Mercedes-Benz and AMG models, which could produce as much as 600kW when combined with an electric motor. In V12 form, the 6.0-litre, known internally as the M279, produces 450kW or 463kW and 1 000Nm depending on the model it is installed.
