This is the end of an era or quite nearly. Although the V12s are still on the docket for the S-Class and CL-Class, they've been dropped from the SL-Class' menu.
Like most, we suspect that because both the horsepower and fuel economy races are now at crossroads, efficiency is the order of the day. This reasoning could signify the end of the 12-cylinder engines in the other cars in time as well.
With its lineup of new turbocharged V8s, Mercedes can offer more oomph and 20 to 25% better fuel economy in all of their high-end performance cars. Saying you own a V12-powered automobile may have sounded exotic in the past but nowadays, boasting that your bonnet shelters a 600+ hp twin-turbo V8 makes you look even cooler.
Some say that the SL 600 and SL 65 were too close in numerous respects (price, power, body-style) to the hot-tamale SLS and so the V12s had to go in order for Mercedes to make sense of the pecking order in its stable of cars. We'll buy that too.
One way or the other, we suspect that few will miss V12s. Should you be of the school where more cylinders equals bigger wallet, you can always one-up your neighbours and purchase a 16-cylinder Bugatti Galibier.
Source: duPont Registry
Like most, we suspect that because both the horsepower and fuel economy races are now at crossroads, efficiency is the order of the day. This reasoning could signify the end of the 12-cylinder engines in the other cars in time as well.
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| Photo: Mercedes-Benz |
With its lineup of new turbocharged V8s, Mercedes can offer more oomph and 20 to 25% better fuel economy in all of their high-end performance cars. Saying you own a V12-powered automobile may have sounded exotic in the past but nowadays, boasting that your bonnet shelters a 600+ hp twin-turbo V8 makes you look even cooler.
Some say that the SL 600 and SL 65 were too close in numerous respects (price, power, body-style) to the hot-tamale SLS and so the V12s had to go in order for Mercedes to make sense of the pecking order in its stable of cars. We'll buy that too.
One way or the other, we suspect that few will miss V12s. Should you be of the school where more cylinders equals bigger wallet, you can always one-up your neighbours and purchase a 16-cylinder Bugatti Galibier.
Source: duPont Registry