Mercedes-AMG

Mercedes-AMG Will Stop Selling V12 Cars

Mercedes-AMG might be famous for its V8s, but its 6.0-liter V12 sits at the top of the food chain. For now. Car and Driver reports that AMG will soon phase out its three V12-powered models, the S65, SL65 and G65, in favor of a different sort of flagship. AMG boss Tobias Moers broke the news in a recent interview.

“Eventually, the 12-cylinder engine will be phased out at AMG,” Moers told Car and Driver. “At the top of our lineup, we will follow another path.”

Car and Driver suspects this other path is hybrids, and we’re inclined to agree. Last year, AMG showed off a four-door GT concept, which featured an 805-hp hybrid powertrain consisting of a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 and an electric motor at the rear axle. Called EQ Power+, Moers told us last year that we should expect to see this system in a production car in 2021 or sooner.

AMG’s V12 makes an impressive 621 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque in its current iteration, but its origins date back to the early 2000s. It seems like it won’t make its way into the new G-Wagen or the next-generation SL, which is supposed to arrive in a year or so. Car and Driver reports that the AMG V12 will soldier on in the S65 until an all-new S-Class arrives around 2020.

Plus, Moers told Car and Driver that AMG “will continue to build the engine for other sub-brands” too. That means this V12 should live on in the Mercedes-Maybach S650 for the foreseeable future.

The only unknown that remains is Pagani. AMG has supplied V12s to the Italian supercar builder since 1999, with a bespoke version of its 6.0-liter V12 powering the Huayra. We’ve reached out to Mercedes-Benz to see if AMG will continue to provide V12s for Pagani.

Anthony Bunch Author

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