With Euro 7 (EU7) emissions regulations taking effect next year, the days of big-displacement engines in luxury cruisers are numbered. Mercedes-Benz, however, is planning to keep the fight going, and is promising to keep its V12 and V8 powertrains alive despite the challenges ahead, according to Autocar.
Speaking at the Munich motor show, Mercedes-Benz Chief Technology Officer, Markus Schäfer confirmed that the brand “will continue to offer V12s”. When asked how they will make it comply with EU7 regulations, he hinted, “I will not say more, but it is coming”, suggesting that there is still a future for the V12 in Europe.
Schäfer did not share details on how the company plans to develop a V12 engine that meets the new regulations or which future models might feature it. But the move will form a part of the company’s revised product strategy, which will see its entire electric vehicle (EV) lineup revamped to debut alongside petrol-powered models under its “most ambitious launch plan in history”.
For now, the only Mercedes-Benz model still sporting the marque’s V12 is the Mercedes-Maybach S680 limousine. Models such as the AMG S65, CL65, and SL600 have all been discontinued in recent years.
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On a related note, Mercedes-Benz is rumoured to be phasing out the much-maligned turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder hybrid powertrain in the Mercedes-AMG C63 and GLC63, to be replaced by a more traditional turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six – or possibly even an all-new V8.
Commenting on that matter, Schäfer said, “We have invested quite a lot to update the entire portfolio… On top, we have created a new V8 that has almost finished EU7 compliance. It is a high-performance V8; it’s brand new.”
The Stuttgart brand has also recently been rumoured to be in bed with BMW in the engine department, in an attempt to overcome the threat of the EU7 regulations – although that is reportedly only for inline-four engines.
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Regarding the future of petrol powertrains, Mercedes-AMG boss Michael Schiebe emphasised that the brand will continue offering them for as long as regulations allow — noting, “Of course, in the US, in Europe, the regulation is that you cannot sell combustion engines anymore from 2035, and we have to comply with that.”
“But there are other markets at the moment (where) I don’t expect them to have such a regulation in place (such as the Middle East and China). So we could still continue to sell those engines there in those markets as long as customer demand continues,” he added.
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