AMG boss confirms future hybrid and diesel plans
Click above for more high-res shots of the SL65 AMG Black Series
Saying that "only a fool would ignore" the emissions of a new vehicle and the current global economy, AMG head-man Volker Mornhinweg realizes that it can't keep building gas-guzzling supercars with reckless abandon. Not that the company will lose its performance edge, mind you. In fact, hybrids and diesels could offer a meaningful performance boost if tuned properly. How so? Torque. Diesel engines are known for their massive axle-shreading twist, and electric motors, an essential part of any hybrid powertrain, make maximum power right off idle, allowing for an internal combustion engine that's tuned for stratospheric revs.
In a recent interview with CAR, the notion of fitting a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter oil-burning V6 inside the C class was kicked around. Mornhinweg suggests such a vehicle is a distinct possibility as AMG moves forward. Hybrid technology could be based on the new drivetrain powering the recently-unveiled S400 BlueHYBRID. No matter what the future holds, we can be sure that the AMG crew is obviously not made up of a bunch of fools, and will therefore continue to offer cars with the highest performance pedigree, regardless of what's underhood.
[Source: CAR]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jgp 1:38PM (10/10/2008)
I wouldn't mind a diesel AMG at all. Can you say "torque monster"?
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Daniel 2:13PM (10/10/2008)
Well you gotta consider the 738 lb-ft max right now is only limited by the strength of the tranny, so I don't know how much higher it'll get...
Dave 7:36PM (10/10/2008)
Why even bother. The people who buy these cars don't worry about gas prices.
Mobius_1 5:54PM (10/10/2008)
WHAT, as if the current AMG engines don't have enough torque? :P
masarak 1:39PM (10/10/2008)
Finally, after all this economy mumbo jumbo... we have a true sign of the apocalypse!
But in all seriousness, I'd like to see a next-gen hybrid turbo diesel from AMG. Nothing like 500 electric hp off the line and 1,500 ft-lbs at redline.
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Ken 1:48PM (10/10/2008)
I am just going to ogle those SL65 AMG Black Series pictures.
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HeyHuub 2:03PM (10/10/2008)
There actually was a diesel AMG some 5 years ago. The C30 AMG CDI, 3 litre inline 5 with 235hp and 540nm of torque.
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Geeky1 3:04PM (10/10/2008)
I just hope that the diesels will be good enough that I can pretend the hybrids don't exist. Ugh.
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P.V. 5:02PM (10/10/2008)
Diesel-hybrid V12, anyone?
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Cardude 5:27PM (10/10/2008)
That SL looks like a fighter jet, cool!
This is good news, we need fuel efficient big engines, and diesels and hybrids are fine ways to make them happen.
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montoym 8:21PM (10/11/2008)
Considering that BMW already has the 335d with it's twin-turbo, and Audi has the 3.0TDI in the A4, it seems that a 3.0L twin-turbo C-Class would have already been on the market. No need for it to be an AMG model either, but they should produce it. They also should offer it here to slot in under the E320 CDI.
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