Mercedes SL65 061
Feann Torr1 Mar 2016
NEWS

Mercedes-Benz V12 won't die

Emissions won't kill V12. Instead hybrid design will ensure "connoisseurs" always have 12 good reasons to pick Benz

Mercedes-Benz will use hybrid technology to save its V12 from the chop. That’s the implication from motoring.com.au’s discussions with Mercedes-Benz global marketing and sales chief Ola Kallenius at a Geneva motor show eve function overnight.

Kallenius, the man tipped to replace Benz chief, Dieter Zetsche, told motoring.com.au that stricter emissions won't kill the compay’s mammoth 463kW, 1000Nm 6.0-litre 12-cylinder show-stopper.

"Yes it can survive, that's the short answer," Kallenius said.

"We obviously continue to invest in our product range so as time goes by if we need to move to more technology to meet emissions standards we will do that."

"The V12 is a segment for connoisseurs, it's a small and exclusive segment and we will continue to offer that,” he stated.

The hefty Mercedes V12 emits 279 grams of CO2/km, on the combined testing cycle, and that figure rises rapidly when the 12-cylinder engine is used in the real world. Indeed, the big Benz engine is almost two-and-a-half times dirtier than a 2.0-litre Mazda3 small car, one of Australia's top-selling cars, but with hybrid or electric augmentation, it could be much cleaner.

Kallenius said the current V12 has plenty of life left in it but conceded the next-generation 12-cylinder flagship will need to change.

Mercedes SL65 014

"I think electrification, step by step, is going to be ramped up and you can do all sorts of different combinations between the combustion engine and electrification.

"So we will have an increase in electrification and it will eventually also find its way into the performance segment," he said.

Ferrari's 6.3-litre V12 has already adopted hybrid augmentation in the boot of the LaFerrari and Lamborghini V12 is expected to follow suit, providing prodigious power with lower emissions. Could there be supercar implications to rival the Italians when a new hybrid V12 from Mercedes materialises in future?

Kallenius would not comment but says: “There are some customers that only want a V12. They really buy the car because of the engine.

"That is something that's important to us and that's why we continue to invest there," he stated.

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