'The horsepower war is over,' says AMG boss.
01-14-2009 | 05:40 PM
#1
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From: Mineola, TX
'The horsepower war is over,' says AMG boss.
Story:
http://autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticl...-Class/236890/
End of an era? I thought this story was kind of interesting and the statement somewhat powerful as it is clearly a sign of the times. I've noticed other German car makers are already doing/considering the same such as Audi and BMW. It's interesting to see a company like Mercedes-Benz say something like this as they are basically saying that they will work to improve efficiency without sacrificing performance. Any other car maker can do the same. With all the talks of canceling this and canceling that, this is just a reminder there is still hope for the car enthusiasts that don't/won't want/drive some egg-shaped underperforming hybrid car. It will be interesting to see what new ideas/technologies/concepts come from some of the bigger car companies in the future.
http://autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticl...-Class/236890/
AMG is actively pursing a lower emissions policy for its future cars, the company has confirmed.
“The horsepower war is over,” said AMG boss Volker Mornhinweg.
“We are going to use other ways to extract better performance, including weight saving, engine optimisation and alternative technologies,” the head of Merc's performance division told Autocar.
Mornhinweg said that the new Mercedes E63 AMG, due to be seen later this year, would be the first beneficiary of weight-saving technologies.
The new Mercedes E63 AMG will be lighter than the outgoing model and have the option of the manual wet-clutch gearbox first seen on the SL63, in order to provide more grunt with better economy.
Mornhinweg confirmed that the company was looking at producing a smaller AMG model.
“Mercedes is developing a new platform below the C-class which has possibilities,” he said. This raises speculation that AMG is plotting a hot version of the next Mercedes A-class, which will be available as a coupe.
The AMG boss also hinted that diesel, hybrid and four-cylinder petrol models could also be on the cards, but that they would not be off-the-shelf solutions. They would have to be engineered to match the characteristics that customers expect from AMG.
“The horsepower war is over,” said AMG boss Volker Mornhinweg.
“We are going to use other ways to extract better performance, including weight saving, engine optimisation and alternative technologies,” the head of Merc's performance division told Autocar.
Mornhinweg said that the new Mercedes E63 AMG, due to be seen later this year, would be the first beneficiary of weight-saving technologies.
The new Mercedes E63 AMG will be lighter than the outgoing model and have the option of the manual wet-clutch gearbox first seen on the SL63, in order to provide more grunt with better economy.
Mornhinweg confirmed that the company was looking at producing a smaller AMG model.
“Mercedes is developing a new platform below the C-class which has possibilities,” he said. This raises speculation that AMG is plotting a hot version of the next Mercedes A-class, which will be available as a coupe.
The AMG boss also hinted that diesel, hybrid and four-cylinder petrol models could also be on the cards, but that they would not be off-the-shelf solutions. They would have to be engineered to match the characteristics that customers expect from AMG.
01-14-2009 | 05:46 PM
#2
It had to end sometime. Facts are though that cars in that price range are not affected by the economy as much. My boss has a S55, CL65, and a new C63 (for his daughter mind you). Personally I think they are overated but the build quality is top notch. I would much rather have a an M5 over the S55 and a M3 or RS6 over the C63. The CL65 is straight baller but too big to have much fun with unless you have the Autobahn. as status symbols they deliver 100%.
Last edited by 9krpmrx8; 01-14-2009 at 05:49 PM.
01-14-2009 | 06:00 PM
#4
ಠ_ಠ
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,228
Likes: 6
From: Under the Dumbarton Bridge
So basically, they've run out of ways to make the engine lighter and more powerful, so they're finally going to start looking into making entire unibody's out of carbon fiber. Great news I guess, but I'm sure that this is going to make these cars a lot more expensive. I'm sure they're not going to stop putting 550BHP motors into their cars.
01-14-2009 | 06:11 PM
#5
they'll still put out enormous amounts of HP but the game of "one ups manship" with bmw is coming to an end
Every year it was 'fun' to see if bmw now had more hp then mercedes or vice versa. Pretty pointless little game they played but some consumers are just absolutely fascinated with brochures and we all know what figure they look up first.
I think the move towards weight saving and better performance is a GREAT one.
The current CLK550 makes 382 hp, I'm sure people were looking for 400 hp next year but what if next year's had 382 hp yet weighed 300 pounds lighter??? I'd take that over the 400 hp any day.
Every year it was 'fun' to see if bmw now had more hp then mercedes or vice versa. Pretty pointless little game they played but some consumers are just absolutely fascinated with brochures and we all know what figure they look up first.
I think the move towards weight saving and better performance is a GREAT one.
The current CLK550 makes 382 hp, I'm sure people were looking for 400 hp next year but what if next year's had 382 hp yet weighed 300 pounds lighter??? I'd take that over the 400 hp any day.
01-14-2009 | 06:32 PM
#6
Id rather have 400hp and 300lbs lighter... but I just cant see merc's out on the track they are to fancy looking..
I can place a 335 or m3 at the track any day, but not the big boats that merc makes..
just my POV
I can place a 335 or m3 at the track any day, but not the big boats that merc makes..
just my POV
01-14-2009 | 06:39 PM
#8
an AMG 55 out on the track is a thing of beauty. It's a monster.
01-14-2009 | 08:25 PM
#14
Are we having fun yet?
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 188
Likes: 0
From: Conn., USA
I'm sad to see it end, but the fact is that most people never use half of what their cars can do anyway. It has become a game of whose HP numbers are bigger. BTW, torque is just as important. Unless you track your car regularly and have been to several driving schools, you're not getting anywhere near all the performance out of your car, anyway.
01-15-2009 | 08:36 AM
#17
The Prototype
Joined: Jan 2006
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Story:
http://autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticl...-Class/236890/
End of an era? I thought this story was kind of interesting and the statement somewhat powerful as it is clearly a sign of the times. I've noticed other German car makers are already doing/considering the same such as Audi and BMW. It's interesting to see a company like Mercedes-Benz say something like this as they are basically saying that they will work to improve efficiency without sacrificing performance. Any other car maker can do the same. With all the talks of canceling this and canceling that, this is just a reminder there is still hope for the car enthusiasts that don't/won't want/drive some egg-shaped underperforming hybrid car. It will be interesting to see what new ideas/technologies/concepts come from some of the bigger car companies in the future.
http://autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticl...-Class/236890/
End of an era? I thought this story was kind of interesting and the statement somewhat powerful as it is clearly a sign of the times. I've noticed other German car makers are already doing/considering the same such as Audi and BMW. It's interesting to see a company like Mercedes-Benz say something like this as they are basically saying that they will work to improve efficiency without sacrificing performance. Any other car maker can do the same. With all the talks of canceling this and canceling that, this is just a reminder there is still hope for the car enthusiasts that don't/won't want/drive some egg-shaped underperforming hybrid car. It will be interesting to see what new ideas/technologies/concepts come from some of the bigger car companies in the future.
But it was funny to hear the reactions and hate from the people that was getting roasted by this coupe. They called the driver a rich boy who drove daddy's car to the track to some off the wall comments.(even though it wasn't Faust Tanners Mercedes, Mercedes let him borrow it) Haters and sore losers....
But any way , it was cool because he went from the track to the club with his date and back home again all in one night.
It was touched on that if the C65 was chipped it go well beyond the 200mph mark, governed at 186mph.
I think Mercedes will do very well with lower HP and adding the weight savings advantage. There AMG cars have always been highway cruise missles, not so great in the corners or running on tight tracks, i think the change will be a welcome to car enthusiast with a AMG Mercedes that is balanced in the handeling department and purposeful in the HP department.
01-15-2009 | 08:49 AM
#18
they'll still put out enormous amounts of HP but the game of "one ups manship" with bmw is coming to an end
Every year it was 'fun' to see if bmw now had more hp then mercedes or vice versa. Pretty pointless little game they played but some consumers are just absolutely fascinated with brochures and we all know what figure they look up first.
I think the move towards weight saving and better performance is a GREAT one.
The current CLK550 makes 382 hp, I'm sure people were looking for 400 hp next year but what if next year's had 382 hp yet weighed 300 pounds lighter??? I'd take that over the 400 hp any day.
Every year it was 'fun' to see if bmw now had more hp then mercedes or vice versa. Pretty pointless little game they played but some consumers are just absolutely fascinated with brochures and we all know what figure they look up first.
I think the move towards weight saving and better performance is a GREAT one.
The current CLK550 makes 382 hp, I'm sure people were looking for 400 hp next year but what if next year's had 382 hp yet weighed 300 pounds lighter??? I'd take that over the 400 hp any day.
Will see.
01-15-2009 | 11:30 AM
#21
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Mineola, TX
Ah, it had to end sometime unfortunately. Did you catch supercars unleashed on the Speed channel Monday night? They had C65 that they were reviewing and putting the car though its paces. Long story short, they took it to the drag strip, beat almost every car out there from modified 350Z, to old rat rods and hot rods, Mustangs including the GT500, etc. The reign of terror from the 200k super coupe came to a dead stop when it went against a guy in a 70's camaro with a massive hood scoop and was producing around 700+ HP. The Merc had no chance......
But it was funny to hear the reactions and hate from the people that was getting roasted by this coupe. They called the driver a rich boy who drove daddy's car to the track to some off the wall comments.(even though it wasn't Faust Tanners Mercedes, Mercedes let him borrow it) Haters and sore losers....
But any way , it was cool because he went from the track to the club with his date and back home again all in one night.
It was touched on that if the C65 was chipped it go well beyond the 200mph mark, governed at 186mph.
I think Mercedes will do very well with lower HP and adding the weight savings advantage. There AMG cars have always been highway cruise missles, not so great in the corners or running on tight tracks, i think the change will be a welcome to car enthusiast with a AMG Mercedes that is balanced in the handeling department and purposeful in the HP department.
But it was funny to hear the reactions and hate from the people that was getting roasted by this coupe. They called the driver a rich boy who drove daddy's car to the track to some off the wall comments.(even though it wasn't Faust Tanners Mercedes, Mercedes let him borrow it) Haters and sore losers....
But any way , it was cool because he went from the track to the club with his date and back home again all in one night.
It was touched on that if the C65 was chipped it go well beyond the 200mph mark, governed at 186mph.
I think Mercedes will do very well with lower HP and adding the weight savings advantage. There AMG cars have always been highway cruise missles, not so great in the corners or running on tight tracks, i think the change will be a welcome to car enthusiast with a AMG Mercedes that is balanced in the handeling department and purposeful in the HP department.
01-15-2009 | 12:12 PM
#23
#50
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 7,521
Likes: 11
From: Caput Mundi
Anyway it is full here of those tanks. Wow, they all look gorgeous and are pretty fast on the road but when you put them on a track they simply look out of place.
Even the new m3 suffers on the turns because of its very high weight compared to the old e46.
By the way every mercedes starts rattling after a couple of years.. i hope that they increase overall build quality while making them lighter :D
01-15-2009 | 12:36 PM
#24
http://www.vettenet.org/torquehp.html
read that then get back to me...
