Mercedes-Benz confirms inline six revival

[Express]

Mercedes-Benz confirms inline six revival



New range of four and six-cylinder engines to power German brand's future.



Stephen Ottley
14 June, 2016


Mercedes-Benz finally confirmed its worst-kept secret – it will revive the inline six-cylinder engine.

First revealed to Drive at the 2015 Geneva motor show, the German brand used a showcase of its alternative powertrain technology in Stuttgart this week to officially confirm the new straight six will headline a new family of engines.

The new aluminium engines will be built in both four- and six-cylinder configurations and in both petrol and diesel forms. The four-cylinder is expected to be 2.0-litres in capacity and the six-cylinder will be 3.0-litres.

Bernhard Heil, vice president of powertrains for Mercedes-Benz, revealed work began on the new engine family five years ago with several key targets in mind.

"Having in mind that emissions should be one key element, having in mind that CO2 should be one key element and performance should be one key element," Heil said.

The inline six-cylinder will be rolled out across the Mercedes range in the coming years, eventually replacing the current V6 powerplants. The decision to switch back to an inline configuration was driven by several factors, including packaging inside the car.

But another key reason, according to Heil is the fact all variants can be built in the same factory, which means Mercedes can tailor production to meet market demand. That helps as four-cylinder engines become more popular, reducing the need for a V6 that cannot be shared with an inline four.

"Nowadays the situation is changing a bit," Heil said. "Eight-cylinder volume is more or less stable, six-cylinder volume is more or less stable [but there is an] increase in four-cylinder volume. That's why we said it makes sense to combine four and six-cylinder [engines]."

The move to turbocharged engines has allowed the Mercedes engineers to repackage the straight six engine, with no need for a complex exhaust manifold to improve torque of a naturally-aspirated engine. That allows the engineers to stand the engine up straighter in the engine bay creating more space.

With Mercedes committed to adding particulate filters to both its diesel and petrol engines, the inline configuration allows for both the turbocharger and particulate filter to go on one side of the engine. According to Heil that provides a major advantage over a V6 engine which takes up more space in the engine bay with its angled cylinder banks.

The first engine to utilise this new structure is the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel that will power the new E220d that will arrive in Australia later in 2016.

It is not only 17 per cent lighter than the 2.1-litre four-cylinder unit it replaces, thanks to its aluminium construction, but reduces fuel consumption by 13 per cent.

Although the new engine is modular and can be built in both three- and five-cylinder configurations, Mercedes is likely to stick to just four and six.

Asked about the possibility of a three-cylinder, as arch-rival BMW offers in several of its smaller cars, Koert Groeneveld, global communications manager for Mercedes-Benz cars all-but ruled it out.

"It's been talked about but currently, no," Groeneveld said. "That's what has been very clear about. We have a small four-cylinder but there is no substitute for cubic inches, so the small displacement four-cylinder engine that is based on our co-operation with Renault-Nissan and we have a large displacement four-cylinder that is ours."

Groeneveld also ruled out any chance of the new inline six-cylinder forming the basis of an all-new V12 engine.

"V12 will stay alive but we won't do one again," he said.

But in good news for twelve-cylinder fans he confirmed that the engine will continue as part of the range for as long as possible.

"There won't be a new V12 but it will be kept up to date," he explained. "It will be like the G-Class, it won't die but it will be kept up to date."

The job of keeping it up to date falls to high-performance division AMG, who Groeneveld also confirmed would remain responsible for the development of the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8.

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/m...10-gpggxu.html

[Ford17]

So Mercedes will revive the inline 6, just as we lose the Falcon's.

The I6 concept will no doubt be 'sold' to us as a 'luxury German' engine.

[Trump]

Australia won't know what it has lost until it's gone.

[208260]

Originally Posted by Loud_Noises

Australia won't know what it has lost until it's gone.

Yep! You said it!

[Sabantien]

In defence of Australia, I'm pretty sure most people, if they think about it at all, think it's a V6 under the bonnet.

[Vesper Martini]

Correct most people don't even understand that a v6 has 6 cylinders.

[Sioso]

Originally Posted by Sabantien

In defence of Australia, I'm pretty sure most people, if they think about it at all, think it's a V6 under the bonnet.

Ford themselves have advertised it as a V6!
http://www.fordforums.com.au/showpos...postcount=4893

[Wretched]

Nice to see another jumping on the I6 (sounds like it will a modular engine with the I4).
However these (along with BMW's I6) cannot be compared to the Falcon I6. These will be far more compact than that of the Barra and therefore can be used in a number of applications.

[Kable72]

Originally Posted by Sioso

Ford themselves have advertised it as a V6!
http://www.fordforums.com.au/showpos...postcount=4893

Oh my god...

[foxtrot3]

Hi. Nothing new for ford, the 6 cylinder zephyr engine from the early 50's to the early 60's had a smaller brother with 2 less cylinders in the Mk1 and 2 consul and the Mk zephyr4. They shared pistons, rods, pushrods and rockers, timing gears and cover, waterpump thermostat housing, oil pump, fuel pump and oil filter. Holden did much the same with the missfire4. Cheers MD

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by Wretched

Nice to see another jumping on the I6 (sounds like it will a modular engine with the I4).
However these (along with BMW's I6) cannot be compared to the Falcon I6. These will be far more compact than that of the Barra and therefore can be used in a number of applications.

When they sold alot of V8's it was economical to base a V6 on that architecture. Now they're selling more 4 cylinders, i guess it's swung in favour of the inline engine. Also seems like the turbo packaging is a big reason why it's happening.

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by Sabantien

In defence of Australia, I'm pretty sure most people, if they think about it at all, think it's a V6 under the bonnet.

I've been told by a new car salesmen that hardly anyone even bothers to ask to see under the bonnet these days. They'll ask "how many cylinders?", but that's it...they couldn't care less if it's a straight or a V.

[CyberWasp]

Ford has the ingredients.
I6 Engine - Check
EcoBoost Technology - Check
Nameplates like Lincoln, Falcon, F Series and countries like China & Middle East wanting large cars that it could be used and marketed in as a prestige item over V6 competitors. - Check
Ability to make Large RWD Platforms.
No competitors in that end of the market with I6 Motors - Check
Higher End companies such as Jaguar & Mercedes all seeing the benefit of I6 Engines and adding them to their range - Check

What do they do with this possibility.
They consult the Ford Brains trust.


and axe it.........

[GO FURTHER]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

I've been told by a new car salesmen that hardly anyone even bothers to ask to see under the bonnet these days. They'll ask "how many cylinders?", but that's it...they couldn't care less if it's a straight or a V.

And the real question that no one ever asks is...

"Is 6 cylinders better in a straight or V configuration?"

[Qwerty321]

Originally Posted by BAXRSIX

And the real question that no one ever asks is...

"Is 6 cylinders better in a straight or V configuration?"

Straight in longitudinal RWD setups where the car is large enough to accommodate a large bonnet, V in everything else.

[foxtrot3]

Originally Posted by BAXRSIX

And the real question that no one ever asks is...

"Is 6 cylinders better in a straight or V configuration?"

Hi. An inline 6 (and some V8's) have a neutral balance, inline 4's and V6 engines need a balance shaft to be anywhere as smooth right through the rev range. Cheers MD

[Ford17]

Originally Posted by foxtrot3

Hi. An inline 6 (and some V8's) have a neutral balance, inline 4's and V6 engines need a balance shaft to be anywhere as smooth right through the rev range. Cheers MD

Indeed, and some more info on this here:

http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...t-six-revival/

[OzJavelin]

With Mercedes committed to adding particulate filters to both its diesel and petrol engines

Really? Petrol engines are going to suffer through these too?

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by BAXRSIX

And the real question that no one ever asks is...

"Is 6 cylinders better in a straight or V configuration?"

TOYOTA answered that question. Their flagship current V6, the 2GR Motor, as good as it is, does not hold a candle to their previous flagship I6, the 2JZ. It's really puzzling why they don't revert back to I6. Maybe it was emission laws and cast iron block, exactly why the Barra had to go.

[Sprintey]

I6 = premium

& Ford throwing it away...

[smoo]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

It's really puzzling why they don't revert back to I6. Maybe it was emission laws and cast iron block, exactly why the Barra had to go.

Because any V6 is a product of the bean counter and nothing else. Whether that be a cut down V8 or a clean sheet design fit for different platforms.
A quick google search of that engine says it was in anything from large fwd barges to Corolla variants to Rav4s, Taragos and full size rwd sedans. Good luck doing that with an inline 6 which are very limited in their application.

[Vesper Martini]

Nissan GTR moved from I6 to V6 & Formula 1 use a V6.

The fact that its more practical to fit into variety of vehicles does not mean its less of a Premium or the product of bean counters.

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Nissan GTR moved from I6 to V6 & Formula 1 use a V6.

The fact that its more practical to fit into variety of vehicles does not mean its less of a Premium or the product of bean counters.

Agreed.

Ferrari are rumored to have an upcoming one for the rumored Dino.
Maserati have a V6 too.
Original NSX was a V6

Were these all lesser cars cause it was a V6?
It is more about the engineering rather than the configuration.

[Express]

This video shows how well GM has done with a V6 and when the Cadillac ATS-V goes up against the AMG C63 S.

It tends to go against the grain of what many Aussie car enthusiasts think of the performance of GM’s V6.

The head to head on the track is a surprise.

It would be nice to see this engine in the next generation Commodore.

[Vesper Martini]

It wouldn't be hard for GM to put a different bumper and tail lights on the Cadillac and call it a Commodore. the mid section already looks similar. I wonder if they ever considered this.
I see its built on the same platform as the 2016 Camaro

[tranquilized]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

It wouldn't be hard for GM to put a different bumper and tail lights on the Cadillac and call it a Commodore. the mid section already looks similar. I wonder if they ever considered this.
I see its built on the same platform as the 2016 Camaro

Previous gen Camaro was built on the Zeta platform, ie Holden Commodore
Current gen Camaro is built on the Alpha platorm, ie Cadillac ATS - smaller and lighter than Zeta.

Has Alpha been engineered for RHD?

[ford man xf]

People in Australia just don't want to buy Falcons anymore, it doesn't matter what powers them, I don't understand why people don't get this simple fact?

[Qwerty321]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

It wouldn't be hard for GM to put a different bumper and tail lights on the Cadillac and call it a Commodore. the mid section already looks similar. I wonder if they ever considered this.
I see its built on the same platform as the 2016 Camaro

Cadillac is a premium brand and always has been. Rebadging a Cadillac as the next gen commo would make the Commodore way too costly. A key pillar of the commodore philosophy is an affordable car, and a 80k Cadillac would defeat that altogether.

[Wretched]

V6TT Ford won LeMans yesterday too. Damn those inferior motors.

[Dash_XR]

My favourite configuration, should be interesting.