AMG boss Tobias Moers has confirmed that his firm's new 4.0-litre V8 engine will in time replace all existing V8 powertrains, including those used by non-AMG products. “The engine will replace our 5.5-litre engine,” said Moers.
Mercedes-Benz will build its own version of the engine on a standard production line. All engines destined for AMG cars will still be built on the ‘one man, one engine’ principle at Affalterbach.
All true AMG cars will also lose Mercedes-Benz badging and be Mercedes-AMG branded like the new GT and C63.
Moers has also completely ruled out the prospect of an AMG hypercar in the foreseeable future, saying: “You’d have to ask Porsche or Ferrari about the business case, but it is important for us not to overestimate your own brand. AMG is not at the level to do that. Not yet at least.”
He also said the company is not working on any Black Series product, but denied the sub-brand had been put on indefinite hold. “We have so much incredible stuff coming through the normal product lines, we can’t think about anything else right now,” he said.
There will also be no diesel-powered AMGs nor any all-wheel drive version of the GT, though from now on every new rear-drive AMG car will receive a limited-slip differential as standard.
Moers also confirmed the company’s long-serving 6.0-litre V12 motor is to be extensively re-engineered and include some element of hybridisation to pass forthcoming emissions targets in China, and dismissed the idea of adding another four cylinders to the new V8. He said the volumes were too small to justify the investment.
As for the current Mercedes-AMG GT, Moers said the car is “pretty much sold out” through 2015-16.
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Very enviable product line up