With regulations clamping down on emissions, automakers are being forced to produce more environmentally friendly cars, but Mercedes-Benz won’t be strong-armed into getting rid of its V12 engine.
In a recent interview, Mercedes board member Ola Kallenius said there are still a number of dedicated customers who enjoy its V12 engine. The automaker can make plenty of power and torque from its lighter and more efficient 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8, but for many customers, the V12 is considered the epitome of powertrains.
“The V12 is around for the foreseeable future,” Kallenius told . “I don’t see that going away quickly.”
“It is a small clientele of connoisseurs that love V12s,” he added. “In some markets for some customers, that V12 is still the ultimate, and that’s what they want, so we will cater to that clientele with a very capable V12 for the foreseeable future.”
Mercedes’ twin-turbocharged twelve-cylinder is currently offered in the S-Class, S-Class Coupe and Cabriolet, SL-Class, and G-Class and as long as demand for V12 versions of those cars remains, the automaker will continue to produce them. The automaker will have to ensure its V12 remains within tightening government emissions standards, but Kallenius said that will be no problem for the engineers in Stuttgart.
[Source: The Drive]
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