Mercedes Benz: SLK 55 AMG -> SLC 43 AMG (N/A V8 to V6 Turbo)

[Blackraven]

I call this the DOWNSIZING DILEMMA

It feels like when the BMW M3 went from NA V8 (E9x) to inline-six turbo (F80).



Anyways:
What are your thoughts on why MB decided to stop the 5.5 liter N/A V8 and instead go with a 3.0 liter V6 turbo?

HP is down, torque is up.

Question though:
If it was for emissions regulations, couldn't they have just gone with the 4.0 V8 (either by detuning the engine or removing the turbochargers)???

Your thoughts???

[RPiM5]

Damn, so your saying that an AMG car is going down to a V6 Turbo?! That's whack.

It will either be the slowest worst sounding AMG car or the fastest most awesomest AMG car, kind of like how the M4 outshines all other ///M cars at the moment with its legendary 6cyl Turbo engine. Time will tell I guess.

[Blackraven]

I've heard other comments that this 3.0 motor is the one used in those 450 AMG Sport variants (C450 etc). It's not a full-fledged AMG engine though so my guess it doesn't fall under the AMG one man one engine manufacturing philosophy.

I have to wait and see for official comparos but yeah that's how it is.

[Niko1414]

M4 is still king don't matter..

[URBAN LEGEND]

Forget the motor. The power is disappointing.

[Blackraven]

Originally Posted by URBAN LEGEND

The power is disappointing.

Definitely a step backward

[M6-Coupe]

http://www.topgear.com/car-news/firs...erc-amg-slc-43

[stealth.pilot]

This is a flight attendant's car, so the turbo V6 is probably more their speed than a big V8.

[Vic55]

Originally Posted by stealth.pilot

This is a flight attendant's car, so the turbo V6 is probably more their speed than a big V8.

but true, not sure what the uproar is over an SLK reduction in engine size. I don't think anyone here owns or is contemplating one.

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by RPiM5

Damn, so your saying that an AMG car is going down to a V6 Turbo?! That's whack.

It will either be the slowest worst sounding AMG car or the fastest most awesomest AMG car, kind of like how the M4 outshines all other ///M cars at the moment with its legendary 6cyl Turbo engine. Time will tell I guess.

You do realize that AMG has made some 4 cylinder cars for a couple of years now, right?

They have made 6 cylinder cars for decades including the original 190E AMG.

I wouldn't worry about it, the E, C and GTS will be V8 for a while. And there's always the S65 if you want even more cylinders.

[TripleC]

I'm going to miss it when all of the high performance NA cars are gone...*tear.

[URBAN LEGEND]

Originally Posted by TripleC

I'm going to miss it when all of the high performance NA cars are gone...*tear.

They'll come back. Won't be gone forever.

[Blackraven]

Still regardless of this 'downgrade', I will try to be as optimistic as possible and think that maybe, just maybe, there might be something positive about this new change.

Perhaps:
-Lighter weight? (which will make the car less front heavy for spirited driving)
-MB can move more of these? (i.e. if they sales volume to justify the economics and manufacturing costs of bringing this car in?)

Any other possible benefit (that results from this 'trade-off')???

[Squddie]

I am sorry to see the last naturally aspirated engine go.

The platform sound pretty good, though. I hope they make the same mistake that BMW did with the e89, enlarge it a bit from the current SLK so they you get a rear shelf and a trunk that has a suitcase worth of height with the roof open. With the soft top that's a given.

Death to hardtops. Worst idea ever.

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by RPiM5

Damn, so your saying that an AMG car is going down to a V6 Turbo?! That's whack.

It will either be the slowest worst sounding AMG car or the fastest most awesomest AMG car, kind of like how the M4 outshines all other ///M cars at the moment with its legendary 6cyl Turbo engine. Time will tell I guess.

What AMG is doing is pretty interesting. They are now creating 6 cylinder and 8 cylinder versions of each AMG car.

So there is going to be a C43 which will be a 3.0 V6 Biturbo, and the C63 with the 4.0 V8 Biturbo, and also E43 and E63/E63S. With the S they will probably stick with the S63 and S65.

It would be like if they stuck an M2 engine in an M5 and then called that the M545.

It seems these smaller engine AMGs still have AMG suspension and AMG transmission, but they don't have the handbuilt engine.

[M6-Coupe]

Originally Posted by stealth.pilot

What AMG is doing is pretty interesting. They are now creating 6 cylinder and 8 cylinder versions of each AMG car.

So there is going to be a C43 which will be a 3.0 V6 Biturbo, and the C63 with the 4.0 V8 Biturbo, and also E43 and E63/E63S. With the S they will probably stick with the S63 and S65.

It would be like if they stuck an M2 engine in an M5 and then called that the M545.

It seems these smaller engine AMGs still have AMG suspension and AMG transmission, but they don't have the handbuilt engine.

Not sure they have AMG performance (transmission, differential and suspension). Most likely AMG package is including more powerful engine (compare to regular ones... ie C450 AMG compare to C300) beside cosmetics such as rims and body kit... similar to BMW M Sport package with more powerful engine...

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by M6-Coupe

Not sure they have AMG performance (transmission, differential and suspension). Most likely AMG package is including more powerful engine (compare to regular ones... ie C450 AMG compare to C300) beside cosmetics such as rims and body kit... similar to BMW M Sport package with more powerful engine...

It isn't like the M Sport package. M sport package is purely cosmetic:

Similarities to C63 are:
Same shock absorbers as C63
Same steering as C63
Same brakes
While it has a different transmission, the transmission is an AMG programmed and optimized transmission (much faster shifts than the one in the C300).

Key differences to C63 are:
No DCT
Smaller tires
No optional ceramic brakes
No flared fenders or power bulge on hood

[gmfive]

Originally Posted by URBAN LEGEND

They'll come back. Won't be gone forever.

What would motivate that change back to NA? They definitely think that satiating enthusiasts is second to hitting their emissions targets even though targets are achievable from a subset of their model fleet. What event would prompt a reversal?

[texasmade01]

A lot of the hard core guys over at the AMG Private Lounge are up in arms over the C43 and E43 with MB calling them real AMG's without the handbuilt "one man, one engine". Most of them can accept the downsizing and moving from NA to turbo but calling the 43's real AMG's without the handbuilt engine is crossing the line for most of them.