Insideline is reporting that current 6.2-liter V-8 found throughout the AMG lineup will be replaced by a 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 making similar performance numbers but consuming less fuel.

(As an example,) the SL55 AMG was originally with us from 2003–2008 and used a 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 making 493 hp and 516 lbs.-ft. of torque; those numbers increased to 510 hp and 531 lbs.-ft. as the car grew older. It was replaced in mid-2008 by the slightly-less-torquey SL63 AMG, which utilized a 6.3-liter V-8 making 518 hp and 465 lbs.-ft. of torque. Although making similar numbers, the 2008 SL55 was only able to obtain EPA numbers of 12 mpg city and 17 mpg highway versus the 2009 SL63’s 12 mpg city and 19 mpg highway. To increase fuel economy, the new 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8 will likely be tuned to make nearly identical power as the current SL63, which should in return allow it to bring back EPA numbers close to 15 mpg city and 21 mpg highway.

Another reason the new 5.5-liter V-8 may make less power than it previously had is due to the new transmission. The seven-speed Multi-Clutch Technology (MCT) transmission appeared in 2008, replacing the five-speed automatic that was joined to the 5.5-liter V-8. Mercedes may have to decrease the muscle of the new SL55 so its new seven-speed tranny can better handle the car’s torque or go back to the robust five-speed unit.

Besides the AMG autos, Insideline is also reporting that all Mercedes-Benz V-8s will soon be replaced by turbo units in the near future.

[via StraightLine]

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