The most important message? The combustion engine and the diesel engine, they're not dead yet. Not yet. Mercedes-Benz has now presented a completely new family of engines. Three billion euros have been invested in the development of these engines. Three billion, which five years ago (estimated) were considered necessary for the new generation of engines. Today - with the prospect of a ban on fossil fuel engines - that seems inappropriate. But it is not. Because even if we steer towards an electric future with full power, the gasoline engine and its oily brother, the diesel, are not dead yet. Not yet. Welcome to the “next generation engine family” at Mercedes-Benz, possibly “the last generation?”

New engines at Mercedes-Benz

The new engine family has been burning fireworks since the premiere of the Mercedes-AMG GT. His Hot-V eight-cylinder turbo was the first representative of the new family. Now Mercedes-Benz has also pulled the cloth off the in-line six-cylinder and the new four-cylinder petrol engine. Straight-six? YES! Finally, the rumors have come to an end, finally, the facts come to the table. And they have it all!

48 Volt, e-turbo and particle filter for petrol engines

If 2017 the facelift, the Schwabe with star says Mopf, for the S-class, then celebrating the new inline six-cylinder petrol finally premiere. Six cylinders, 3 liter displacement, 500 cubic per cylinder, as with all in the new engine family. In addition, the new 48 Volt on-board network for the units and two turbochargers. A twin-scroll charger in the exhaust system and an electric turbocharger that builds up pressure within 300 milliseconds with up to 70.000 revolutions. Adieu, you stupid turbo lag!

We can confidently hope for 400+ horsepower and thanks to the leap in efficiency with less consumption than the previous V6 petrol engines, which managed with around 333 hp. The new engine (internal M256) also has an integrated starter generator in the bell housing. This not only eliminates the starter, it also allows power to be fed back into the 48-volt electrical system - the additional 48-volt lithium-ion battery joins the normal 12-volt electrical system. The starter generator also serves as an electrical booster with up to 220 Nm of additional power. And again: Adieu, you stupid turbo lag! The seriousness of the development shows that the direct-injection petrol engine also has a particle filter. The unit's 48-volt electrical system supplies the engine's power-hungry auxiliary units. From water pumps to servo pumps to air conditioning compressors to e-turbochargers. The belt drive saved in this way for the new six-pack also ensures that the engine is compact. The performance of the straight six-cylinder engine rises to values ​​that were formerly reserved for eight-cylinder engines - but the installation space size is more similar to that of a four-cylinder engine.

Unlike a four-cylinder, however, the straight six enjoys the balance of self-eliminating inertial forces. Like a V12, a row six hums in elegant calm and free from disturbing mass moments. Silky smooth running, like a turbine. BMW fans know that. And Daimler had straight six too. Until a V-engine family was needed, because - yes, why actually. But that's history. 500 cubic meters and 90 millimeter cylinder spacing - the new engine family at Daimler.

Four-cylinder with 48-Volt (M264)

The new turbo four-cylinder M264 first has to do without an electric turbocharger. First off. The 100 kW output per liter of displacement leaves such a stir. 136 PS per liter. For 4 cylinders, each with 500 cubic, this corresponds to an output of around 272 PS. The new four-cylinder with twin-scroll loader will celebrate its premiere in 2017. Also, the four-cylinder receives an 48-Volt electrical system and a starter-generator, but not on the crankshaft as the six-transmitter, but belt driven. Even the four-cylinder is thus able to recuperate power, up to 12.5 kW, and also to boost electrically. Up to a speed of around 2.500 revolutions, the belt starter generator will drive the gasoline engine out of the turbo lag with electrical power. So here too: Adieu, you mean turbo hole!

The four-cylinder turbo gasoline engine is also fitted with a particle filter so that it can cope with the particle emissions. Direct injection with high efficiency have a particle problem. The particle filter for petrol engines raises the new unit to an emission level, well ahead of current legislation. This is important - because only then can the use of combustion engines be argued at all. The electric drivetrain, however, is slowly and safely moving into our automobile. It is still hidden under 48-volt electrical systems and starter generators, but here too - all just a further step towards electrification. The boundaries of hybridization are increasingly disappearing. With the 48-volt electrical system and the belt starter generators or the integrated starter generators in the six-cylinder engine, the combustion engine grows into a hybrid.

Diesel in-line six OM 656

Two turbochargers in a row, a so-called twin-turbo configuration, an aluminum engine block with steel pistons and the NANOSLIDE coating and more than 310 PS output. The new diesel engine with six cylinders in line is one of the special delicacies. For people with diesel in their bloodstream. One last full serve before we all drive purely electric. Experience torque orgies again. Rich thrust from the cellar, efficiency, as you did not know before.

The new Reihensechser is closely related to the presented in the E-Class new OM 654 four-cylinder diesel engine.  By 2019, Mercedes-Benz wants to have converted all diesel engines in all series to this new generation. This will then also meet the new emission regulations according to RDE requirement.