The future looks bright for V-12 engines, at least, they do at Mercedes-Benz. This is because the luxury automaker has confirmed its future lineup will offer the full flavor of a V-12, though the development and production of the engines will be outsourced to AMG.
That’s right, Mercedes will no longer be developing its own V-12 engines, which makes sense since the number of models it offers with a 12-cylinder powerplant can be counted on just one hand. AMG, on the other hand, currently has four V-12 models in its fleet and also supplies a unique 12-cylinder engine for the Pagani Huayra, and given the rave reviews of the Italian supercar we wouldn’t be surprised if other small firms enlist the help of AMG’s engine masters as well.
As for Mercedes, all twelve-cylinder engines for its future models will be developed at AMG’s facilities in Affalterbach, Germany, and be manufactured in accordance with the firm’s traditional philosophy of "one man, one engine.” We're hoping they also get the cool AMG engine signature plaques.
Currently, AMG produces a twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V-12 codenamed the M279. This engine most recently featured in the 2013 SL65 AMG where it developed 621 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. The first non-AMG model to feature a V-12 built in Affalterbach is likely to be the brand new 2014 Mercedes-Benz S600 due out next year. Expect it to feature a detuned version of the M279.
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