Autocar - First for car news and reviews

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-savin...Read the full article

Sounds like the AMG models are going to get alot more imaginative and varied - that can only be a good thing. Im pretty sure I read that the next A-Class is going to be a conventional hatchback design and retain FWD, so that may limit the power output available anyway.

I reckon Merc could get 250-ish hp through the front wheels, providing it has something similar to the Q2 differential Alfa do, and it's developed well. I remember a few journalists saying that they're fantastic and that with a little more development, 4WD could be rendered useless. Just a possibility. Or there could just be a 300bhp-ish, 4WD A-Class hatchback - sounds good to me.

Interesting one this. A CL-owning friend of mine says that he was told that the CL63 is actually the better car compared with the more powerful CL65. The CL63 is a lighter engine and is mated to the better 7-speed gearbox (which can't handle the 65's engine). So maybe it's best that the cars were made intelligently (a la CL63) rather than with brute force and ignorance (a la CL65) ? Not to mention the c.£50k difference between the two.

 I'd welcome a smaller luxury Benz with real performance. Like the old 190 Cosworth.

 However, I hope AMG doesn't  get caught up in the numbers game. It's always been "one man - one engine" at AMG, which limits production to about 20,000 units per year. More than that and they run the risk of lowering quality.

I'm with Fred above.  This is good news but shouldn't dilute what AMG is about.  AMG engines should be special, whether that is because of the enormous power (as now) or because they use exotic materials or technologies.  How about a C-Class with a 2.0 NA engine, producing 280bhp odd - screaming like a touring car engine.  Or a small-capacity turbo, say 1.5 litres - if Subaru can manage astronomical power figures from their engines, then surely AMG can?

Casanova:

How about a C-Class with a 2.0 NA engine, producing 280bhp odd - screaming like a touring car engine.  Or a small-capacity turbo, say 1.5 litres - if Subaru can manage astronomical power figures from their engines, then surely AMG can?

In an ideal world. I may even consider buying a Merc!  However, in reality, who would actually buy it?

On the whole the AMG brand appeals to middle aged men with more money than sense, after all why do they all get fitted with auto boxes?  They're "blokes" cars, that much is evident even from AMG kitted C180's and E200's.  A decent NA engine or even a small capacity blown lump just doesn't fit in with the effortless power and bragging rights image.

Steeleyboy:

The CL63 is a lighter engine and is mated to the better 7-speed gearbox (which can't handle the 65's engine). So maybe it's best that the cars were made intelligently (a la CL63) rather than with brute force and ignorance (a la CL65)

 

I have to agree with this point...upt to a point. I drove a CL65 earlier this year for 5 days and 1000 miles and thought it was wonderful, there is no real substitute for beating the laws of physics into subm,ission sometimes and boy was it quick, noticably quicker than a GT speed and I thought more comfortable and easy to use. Pretty wonderful if you ask me! The only stumbling block being 150 grand.

TegTypeR:

On the whole the AMG brand appeals to middle aged men with more money than sense, after all why do they all get fitted with auto boxes?  They're "blokes" cars, that much is evident even from AMG kitted C180's and E200's. 

True, but the gearbox in the sl63 is a true marvel and who would want a manual e63, sl, s, cl anyway? not me. Personally I hate the kits on the lower powered cars in much the same way as i hate s line 2.0tdi a4s but if that pays for the exciting stuff who cares?

I actually would have an amg mercedes if I had the money, complete with auto box, massage seats, dynamic seats and all the rest. Maybe I'm hitting middle age early!