M 157 – The Art of Engineering
Packing a new high-performance powertrain, the CL 63 AMG shows how cutting-edge technology can continue to boost the potential of the classic combustion engine.
The engine is the heart of an automobile. This powerhouse underneath the hood provides the necessary propulsion, defines the vehicle’s character, and is the primary partner in the interactive chain with the person behind the steering wheel. Through the activation of the gas pedal, the engine propels the vehicle forward by providing the appropriate force. The fascination of engines continues unabated. Although cars in the future might have a different drive system that is powered by batteries or fuel cells, for example, the year when large numbers of electric cars will be found on our roads is still very remote. Until then, the combustion engine will continue to power automobiles into the future and will make further major advances, particularly with regard to performance and fuel efficiency.
Presentation of the Mercedes-Benz CL 63 AMG. Even though all of the CL series coupes shine brightly in the automotive firmament, the CL 63 AMG gleams with a special brilliance. The car’s drive unit is currently the most efficient V8 engine in the world, generating up to 420 kW (571 hp) and up to 900 Nm of torque. However, it only consumes 10.5 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers (NEDC measuring method, New European Driving Cycle) and therefore emits 244 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer. Such figures would have been unattainable just a few years ago, but cutting-edge technology is making this new benchmark possible. The new engine is also a pioneer when it comes to efficiency, for which it is setting standards throughout the industry. The company aims to continuously reduce fuel consumption and the associated carbon dioxide emissions so that the environmental impact can be kept as low as possible.
To achieve these tough goals, the engineers employed the best technology available for the CL 63 AMG. The engine with the in-house designation M 157 has a V-shaped block of eight cylinders and a total displacement of 5.5 liters. Although these facts alone ensure that the drive unit delivers high performance, various supporting measures had to be implemented in order to turn the system into a high-performance sports engine for Mercedes-AMG. The most important ones were the installation of two turbochargers with charge-air cooling, gasoline direct injection with piezo injectors, and variably adjustable camshafts. Added to this is the Speedshift MCT seven-speed sports transmission, which is an outstanding piece of technology in its own right. Each component contributes to the vehicle’s overall efficiency.
More power despite lower fuel consumption. In order to achieve these seemingly contradictory goals as effectively as possible, the engine specialists from Mercedes-AMG for the first time combined a smaller displacement than that of the predecessor unit with twin superchargers and spray-guided combustion. Turbochargers are a tried and tested method for boosting performance. They provide engines with compressed fresh air, which improves combustion and thus boosts engine performance. The M 157 has two turbochargers — one for each bank of cylinders. The boost pressure is 1 bar, or 1.3 bar if the vehicle is equipped with the optional Performance Package. The peak values mentioned above are achieved with the Performance Package. But even without it, the engine still boasts an impressive 400 kW (544 hp) of output and 800 Nm of torque. An extremely large intercooler was installed in order to ensure that the engine gets enough air even at full load. The system cools down the compressed intake air before it enters the combustion chambers, thereby optimizing the output and the torque.
MCT
Interview with Anton Kerckhoff: “Maximum Performance at All Times”
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