Hurrah! Mercedes will keep the V8 and V12 engines alive

Breaking News… No, it's not an automaker going electric or phasing out their heritage engines. For once, this breaking news is good news for us car enthusiasts. Mercedes made plans to keep and develop its V8 and V12 engines. This was revealed in the company's recent 'Mastering Transformation' roadmap presentation.

Electrified V8 in Development

Mercedes-AMG, the Mercedes-Benz high-performance arm, is working on a "next-generation, high-tech electrified V8" actively. This powertrain will find its place in future AMG models based on the future AMG.EA platform. Electrification integration is meant to improve performance without compromising on tight emission standards like the upcoming Euro 7 rules.

Selective Continuation of the V12

In defiance of industry trends to downsize and electrify, Mercedes-Benz has reaffirmed its dedication to the V12 engine. The 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 will still be available in certain markets, especially where emissions regulations allow. The engine now powers top-of-the-line models such as the Mercedes-Maybach S680 and the armored S-Class Guard.

The move also makes Mercedes the sole German automaker to maintain the V12 alive as BMW killed the M760i in 2022 and Audi discontinued the W12 in the A8 in 2017.

Market-Specific Offerings

Availability of V12 models will vary according to individual regions, factoring in the different regulatory contexts and customer likings. Where some markets can no longer sustain V12 engines in the light of strict emissions legislation, other markets with looser regulations will be able to retain these potent power plants.

There has been no word on the inline-six's future. Yet, since larger engines are being kept in production, it is safe to assume that the automaker will continue to produce its 3.0-liter unit as well.

Future Outlook

Considering the overall sales strategy of the brand, Mercedes is expecting the plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles to account for only about 30% of its overall sales by 2027, while the other 70% will be controlled by internal combustion engine (ICE) models—most of which will have 48V mild-hybrid technology.

This change in forecasts underscores a more realistic strategy than the firm's previous, more ambitious electrification plans. Earlier, Mercedes had targeted a switch to an all-electric model range by 2030 "where market conditions permit." But as EV uptake is moving at a slower pace than anticipated globally, the automaker has revised its expectations, realizing that an all-electric transition is not on the cards for the near term.