The new Mercedes AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine: Powerful, innovative and efficient

Mercedes-AMG presents a new technological masterpiece: the AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine is a new development at the sporting heart of the new Mercedes-AMG GT car. This innovative eight-cylinder unit stands out for its sublime power delivery, the purposeful lightweight construction, as well as its high efficiency and environmental compatibility. With peak power of up to 375 kW (510 hp) and maximum torque of up to 650 Nm the new AMG V8 delivers motorsport-inspired performance. The new sports car engine follows in an impressive V8 tradition that started in 1967 with the M100 in the legendary 300 SEL 6.8 AMG racing car and continues with trendsetting features of the future.

Powerful V8 engines have long been a core competence at AMG, the performance brand from Mercedes-Benz. Innovative and exciting high-performance engines come out of the location in Affalterbach. On this occasion, Mercedes-AMG GmbH is entirely responsible for both development and production.

Tobias Moers, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH: “V8 engines are an integral part of the AMG philosophy and the brand’s commitment to ‘Driving Performance’. The V8 biturbo engine for our new GT is going to delight our customers!”

Christian Enderle, Head of Engine and Powertrain Development at Mercedes-AMG: “The new AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo sees us presenting an exciting and powerful sports car engine which, thanks to a number of measures, also represents the next step in efficiency.”

First sports car engine with ‘hot inside V’ and dry sump lubrication

The new AMG V8 engine has two turbochargers which are not mounted on the outside of the cylinder banks but rather inside the V configuration – experts call it a ‘hot inside V’. The benefits are a compact engine design, an optimum response and low exhaust gas emissions. Dry sump lubrication allows the engine to be installed lower, which moves the centre of gravity closer to the road and forms the basis for high lateral acceleration. The M178 (in-house designation) from AMG is thus the world’s first sports car engine with hot inside V and dry sump lubrication. With a dry weight of 209 kg the new AMG V8 is also the lightest engine in its competitive segment.

The new AMG M178 V8 engine at a glance:

Cylinder arrangement	V8
Cylinder angle	90°
Valves per cylinder	4
Displacement	3982 cc
Bore x stroke	83.0 x 92.0 mm
Cylinder spacing	90 mm
Compression ratio	10.5 : 1
Output	375 kW (510 hp) at 6250 rpm
Output per litre	94.2 kW/litre 128 hp/litre
Max. torque	650 Nm at 1750 – 4750 rpm
Torque per litre	163.2 Nm/litre
Maximum engine speed	7200 rpm
Maximum charge pressure	1.2 bar
Peak pressure	130 bar
Engine weight (dry)	209 kg
Emissions standard	Euro 6

Superior power delivery and motorsport-inspired performance

As the latest member of the Mercedes-Benz BlueDIRECT engine family, the AMG M178 stands out for its superior power delivery and motorsport-inspired performance. It boasts an emotive and unmistakable AMG V8 engine sound, along with an immediate response and high pulling power. The torque curve is synonymous with good driveability: the peak of 650 Nm is available in the broad range from 1750 to 4750 rpm.

With a displacement of 3982 cc, in terms of technology the V8 is closely related to the AMG 2.0-litre turbo engine in the A 45 AMG, CLA 45 AMG and GLA 45 AMG, which is currently the most powerful, series-production four-cylinder engine in the world. Both AMG engines have the same bore/stroke ratio, guaranteeing high revving ability. Mixture formation comes courtesy of third-generation direct petrol injection with piezo injectors. The highly efficient and economical AMG 4.0-litre, V8 biturbo engine meets the Euro 6 emissions standard and the maximum particulate emissions level that takes effect in 2016.

Cylinder bore liners featuring NANOSLIDE® technology

The aluminium crankcase is produced using sand casting technology and features a closed deck design. This ensures extreme strength whilst keeping the weight as low as possible, and enables high injection pressures of up to 130 bar. The cylinder bore surfaces feature NANOSLIDE® technology which makes them twice as hard as conventional cast-iron linings.

NANOSLIDE® was developed by Daimler starting in the year 2000 and has so far been used in over 200,000 engines since 2006. The first unit with NANOSLIDE® technology was likewise an AMG V8: the extremely successful predecessor to the new AMG 4.0-litre biturbo. The application scope for this multi-award-winning technology has been continually widened. Since the start of the 2014 race season it is also being deployed in the new Mercedes F1 V6 turbo engine.

‘Spectacle honing’ is another measure to reduce friction and therefore consumption: in this complex process, the cylinder liners receive their mechanical surface treatment when already bolted in place. A jig resembling spectacles is bolted to the crankcase in place of the cylinder head mounted later. Any cylinder warpage that might occur during final assembly is therefore taken into account or eliminated as the cylinder liners are honed. This has advantages in terms of both durability and oil consumption. The new AMG V8 has forged aluminium pistons featuring a lightweight design and high strength. A low-friction piston ring package reduces fuel and oil consumption.

Dry sump lubrication for high lateral acceleration

Thanks to the use of dry sump lubrication, a conventional oil pan is redundant. Already installed low down, the engine could thus be dropped by a further 55 millimetres. This lowers the vehicle’s centre of gravity, which is ideal for a sports car with extremely high lateral dynamics. In addition to improved agility, dry sump lubrication ensures direct oil extraction from the crankcases for optimal engine lubrication, even at high speeds on bends.

In the M178, dry sump lubrication deploys a suction pump, a pressure pump and an external oil tank with a capacity of 12 litres. The system circulates nine litres of engine oil in total. The oil suction pump extracts oil directly from the crankcases, cylinder heads and valve body assembly and delivers it to the external oil tank at a pump output of up to 250 litres per minute. Lubricant remains there for just five seconds before being pumped back around the high-performance engine. Efficient engine oil suction improves engine efficiency further. On-demand control of the pressure oil pump takes into account the engine rpm, temperature and load characteristics stored by the control unit. Made of plastic, the oil pan bottom section and oil tank are proof of a commitment to lightweight construction.

Cylinder heads with zirconium alloy

The cylinder heads in the AMG 4.0-litre, V8 biturbo engine are made of a zirconium alloy for maximum temperature resistance and thermal conductivity. Four overhead camshafts control a total of 32 valves. Camshaft adjustment on the inlet and outlet side enables an excellent response and optimises the gas cycle for each operating point. Optimised valve springs and the low-friction valve gear with cam followers deliver further fuel savings.

Direct injection with spray-guided combustion

A combination of biturbocharging and direct petrol injection with spray-guided combustion increases thermodynamic efficiency, thereby reducing fuel consumption and exhaust gas emissions. Particularly fast and precise piezo injectors spray the fuel at high pressure into eight combustion chambers. Multiple injection occurs on-demand, ensuring a homogeneous fuel/air mixture. The delivery of fuel is electronically controlled and fully variable for a fuel pressure between 100 and 200 bar.

Biturbocharging with ‘hot inside V’

Unlike the previously conventional approach, both exhaust gas turbochargers in the new M178 are located inside the ‘hot inside V’ configuration rather than on the outside of the cylinder banks. The advantages of this layout are that the V8 engine is considerably more compact, which enables optimum weight distribution between the front and rear axle, as well as the low installation position. The ‘hot inside V’ also optimises the supply of fresh air to both exhaust gas turbochargers. Electronically controlled blow-off valves ensure a very immediate and direct response. The maximum charge pressure is 1.2 bar; the turbochargers have a maximum speed of 186,000 revolutions per minute. For combustion purposes, 2.3 times more oxygen atoms are pressed into the turbocharged engine as would be the case in a naturally aspirated engine. The two firewall catalytic converters in thin-walled ceramic material positioned down from the exhaust gas turbochargers respond very quickly due to their close-coupled configuration. In conjunction with two metal, underfloor catalytic converters, the M178 delivers effective emission control.

Sports exhaust system with variable exhaust flaps

Excitement, emotive appeal and recognition value: at Mercedes-AMG engine sound is an important target during development. The new GT has a sports exhaust system with fully variable exhaust flaps. This gives the driver the ability to vary the engine sound: depending on the selected mode they may experience the new AMG V8 with a focus on comfort and relaxed, long-distance journeys or with a more emotive, motorsport-inspired touch. The M178 has its own tonal characteristics which denote the GT’s membership of the AMG family but that also distinguish it from all other high-performance cars.

There is an exhaust flap on either side of the rear silencer which is actuated variably on a logic-controlled basis depending on the transmission mode, driver’s power requirement and the engine speed. At low loads and engine rpm the flaps remain closed. This causes the exhaust gases to cover a longer distance and flow through an additional damping element so that the engine sound is pleasantly subdued and irritating frequencies are effectively suppressed. When the driver accelerates, the flaps progressively open so that although some of the exhaust gases cover the longer, acoustically dampened distance, most travel the shorter distance. Under full load at higher engine speeds, both flaps are fully opened, thus allowing the occupants to enjoy the powerful sound typical of an AMG V8. In short, they are left in no doubt as to the performance potential of the 375 kW (510 hp) eight-cylinder biturbo engine.

Efficient cooling of charge air, water and engine oil

For optimum power output even when outside temperatures are high, Mercedes-AMG uses indirect air/water intercooling. The charge air cooler has a separate, low-temperature water circuit. Due to the optimised throughflow profile for the intercooler, the maximum intake air temperature is 180 degrees Celsius. The low-temperature cooler with its water circuit ensures that the intake air compressed by the turbochargers cools down effectively before it enters the combustion chambers, and maintains a consistently low intake temperature even under full load. A large radiator at the car’s front end ensures controlled cooling of the water circulating in the low-temperature circuit. Extremely short charge-air ducting makes for optimum responsiveness.

The engine coolant is cooled using the particularly efficient cross-flow principle and there is a three-phase thermostat to warm coolant faster. Because the water pump is driven by a timing chain rather than the usual poly-V-belt, a simplified belt drive system is used with less clamping force. The advantages: less loss of drive power. With a rated flow of 420 litres, the water pump conveys the equivalent of more than two full bathtubs per minute.

An external engine oil cooler in the front apron of the Mercedes-AMG GT helps with heat management for the V8 engine. A two-stage, controlled oil pump circulates the engine oil: it varies the flow rate depending on load and engine speed requirement, thereby benefiting fuel economy. At high engine speeds more than 1.0 litre of engine oil per second flows through the oil lines and ducts. To save on weight numerous oil and water lines are made of aluminium.

Sophisticated solutions are also deployed on the engine’s periphery:

• Separate cooling-air flow for the exhaust gas turbochargers under high thermal load
• Active engine mounts for excellent lateral dynamics with no loss of comfort
• Auxiliary units efficiently powered by two short, low-friction belts with four grooves. Intelligent positioning of auxiliary units virtually neutralises belt forces on the crankshaft.
• Two-mass flywheel with centrifugal pendulum prevents torsional vibration on the drive line for a smooth ride.
• ECO start/stop function and alternator management to save fuel.

High-tech test benches for engines with over 470 kW

There are nine high-tech test stations in Affalterbach on which AMG engines with an output exceeding 470 kW and more than 1000 Nm undergo dynamic testing. These test facilities are able to simulate a very wide range of road and environmental conditions to reproduce any conceivable type of operation. Cold or hot starting, mountain passes, stop-and-go traffic or fast laps on the North Loop of the Nürburgring – the engines are required to give their utmost. Even different intake air temperatures and densities can be computer controlled.

Function and endurance benchtesting for the highest quality

The goal of the detailed bench tests is to verify the performance of all engine components, including the peripheral units. All measurement data for the engines examined is systematically compared and evaluated using reproducible test methods. The functional tests are accompanied by endurance testing. To ensure the very highest quality standards over their entire operating life, new AMG engines are required to undergo several thousand hours of endurance testing.

Extensive trials in every climatic zone on earth

Simultaneously the first test engines undergo intensive testing in practical trials. The standardised test programme at Mercedes-AMG includes all climatic zones and route profiles from the icy cold of northern Sweden to the merciless heat of Death Valley (USA), from fast laps on the North Loop of the Nürburgring and high-speed circuits in Nardo (Italy) and Papenburg to stop-and-go city traffic during rush hour. This programme makes the very highest demands on the day-to-day practicality, reliability and long-term durability of new generations of engine.

A tradition of hand-built excellence: “one man, one engine”

The AMG 4.0-litre, V8 biturbo engine is being made in Affalterbach according to the “one man, one engine” principle. In the AMG engine shop highly qualified fitters assemble the high-performance engines by hand according to the strictest quality standards. The fitter’s signature on the AMG engine plate attests to this exclusive type of engine production and indicates maximum quality and technology transfer from motorsport – from Formula 1 and the DTM to customer sport activities in the SLS AMG GT3.

Long tradition of powerful AMG V8 engines

Powerful 8-cylinder engines are an inseparable part of Mercedes-AMG’s history. Established in 1967, the company caused a stir with the 300 SEL 6.8 AMG which succeeded in taking second place at the 24-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) in 1971 for a class victory. The AMG racing saloon was technically based on the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 with the M100 V8 engine. With an engine output of 184 kW (250 hp) at 4000 rpm and a top speed of 220 km/h, this luxury saloon was Germany’s fastest regular production car at the time. Classic tuning as well as an enlarged displacement from 6330 to 6835 cc resulted in an increase in output to 315 kW (428 hp) at 5500 rpm and in torque from 500 to 608 Nm.

Another important engine in the AMG story was the M117, its first eight-cylinder unit with a four-valve-per-cylinder design. With a displacement of 5.6 litres, 265 kW (360 hp) and 510 Nm of torque, this V8 accelerated the 300 CE 5.6 AMG to a top speed of 303 km/h. In 1987 this made the coupé the fastest German car in series production, and American AMG fans reverently christened it “The Hammer”.

The supercharged AMG 5.5-litre V8 of 2001 is another milestone in the history of AMG engine development: the M113 K delivered up to 428 kW (582 hp) and 800 Nm of torque. The supercharged AMG 5.5-litre V8 of the SLR McLaren dating from 2003 was even more powerful – the M155 generated up to 478 kW (650 hp) and 820 Nm.

2005 saw the début of the naturally aspirated, high-revving AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine known as the M156, which developed up to 386 kW (525 hp) and 630 Nm depending on the model. Exclusively reserved for the SLS AMG, the likewise 6.3-litre M159 had a maximum output of 420 kW (571 hp) and maximum torque of 650 Nm. In the SLS AMG Coupé Black Series the M159 actually attained 464 kW (631 hp).

The AMG 5.5-litre V8 biturbo M157 engine delivers between 386 kW (525 hp) and 430 kW (585 hp) depending on the model, and a maximum torque of between 700 and 900 Nm. M157 is regarded as the most efficient engine in its output and displacement class.

With a high specific output of 128 hp/litre and consumption of considerably less than 10 litres/100 km (NEDC combined), the AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine leads the way in the long tradition of powerful V8 engines from Mercedes-AMG.