MERCEDES-BENZ

Company may keep V8 heat engine alive until 2030 or even beyond

In July 2021, Mercedes disclosed its intentions to shift the range to pure electric drive by the end of the decade.

However, in the end, this statement came with “small letters” as in the “three-pointed star” they pointed out that this will happen when “market conditions allow”. This means that even if internal combustion engines are “retired” in certain regions, there is a good chance that the premium German brand will still have gasoline-powered vehicles in most parts of the world.

It won't necessarily be small engines, as Mercedes is quite determined to keep the V8 alive until 2030 and beyond. In a recent interview, the vice president of Mercedes' vehicle development sector, Jerg Bartels, said that the eight-cylinder will continue to be present. He explained that everything depends on the “rigor” of environmental regulations. If the Stuttgart-based brand can achieve an adequate CO2 emissions average, it won't end up with the V8 or the smaller inline six in any case.

“Ultimately, our strategy in relation to CO2 emissions must be fulfilled and we have a clear path in this direction, which is to be carbon neutral by the end of the 30s of this century, until 2039. We want to be a manufacturer of pure electrical energy vehicles from 2030, but if there is still customer demand for V8 engines in some regions, and we have them on offer, why should we phase them out?”

Mercedes is fully aware that it will have a hard time upgrading the SUS engine to comply with stricter regulations, especially Euro 7, but it also knows that some customers will still want cars with six- and eight-cylinder engines. Bartels is confident that engineers can bring any power unit into compliance with the strictest rules, but this brings higher costs that some customers will be unwilling to pay.

Bartels acknowledged that it will be difficult to justify the high costs of internal combustion engines when Euro 7 takes effect in the middle of this decade, but that day has not yet come. The V8, meanwhile, is available in a number of models and will be featured in future models, including the second-generation AMG GT.

However, the AMG C63 will lose the V8 in favor of a four-cylinder, with reports suggesting the upcoming E53 will ditch the 4.0-litre unit as well. However, on the other hand, Mercedes will be happy to sell Maybach S-classes in the S680 edition with a mighty V12, one of the last twelve-cylinder engines that can be had in a new car.

While brands like Porsche and Toyota flirt with synthetic fuels, Mercedes doesn't see them as a sustainable solution, as it believes this solution is also bad for the environment. “We consider that, of course. However, from an energetic point of view, it really doesn't make sense. How many kilograms of CO2 do you produce to make synthetic fuels.”

Mercedes' biggest rival BMW has also vowed to keep large-displacement engines on offer, promising M models with in-line "six" and V8 units that will be around at least until 2030, and possibly longer. However, the M760i was dropped with the new 7 Series, meaning there are no more Bavarian V12 models.

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