Mercedes-Benz working on making AMG greener

Honestly, AMG could actually make this into a positive thing as there are several technologies which they could implement to improve performance as well as fuel economy.

Examples:

Direct Injection-Increase fuel economy 7%
Mild Hybridization- Increase fuel economy 5%
Use an electromagnetic valve train- Increase fuel economy 5%

They could also go back to blown engines. IMO, a VGT turbo ala Porsche 911 turbo would be really nice

Turbocharge and downsize- increase fuel economy 10%

They could use ceramic coatings in the exhaust mains and downsize the radiator for a minor weight savings. They could also use CRP for the hood and trunk, carbon fiber for the roof, and DuPont Mylex for the exhaust. This would lead to a weight reduction of ~200 lbs.

Every single suggestion I made would reduce fuel consumption while improving performance.

— GreenPlease (View Profile)

Posted on 4/14/2008 8:31:02 PM | | Votes: 3   

enthusiastx11,

Actually, these policies will only serve to bankrupt sports car makers like Porsche who cannot possibly meet those targets, as they have no small cars to offset their most polluting models.

This is just left-wing socialist government being unreasonably heavy-handed to an Auto industry which is making huge strides to become cleaner, unlike other, more damaging industries.

The car industry is becoming the scape-goat for this 'Green' agenda because they have done a poor job of representing themselves on their behalf, and will continue to suffer financially (some may disappear) as these policies are idealistic and unfair.

— Matthew1 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/14/2008 8:45:32 PM | | Votes: 1   

True, BMW has been leading the trimming weight off cars trend.Their cars are constantly lighter than the comp.. They have been using carbon fiber on parts of their cars, and also use smaller engines compared to the competition, while delivering performance that equals the competition or surpasses it. BMW also has had CSL versions of there cars since the early 70's. Also on the E90 3 series they use magnesium crankcases to trim weight and thats on a mass production car. I have also heard for a few years now that BMW will start using carbon fiber reinforced plastic chassis, which will really cut the pounds off. As far as the luxury car market goes BMW has been leading the trend.

— carE10 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/14/2008 8:46:44 PM | | Votes: 7   

The lightness in the CSL's is hardly to make them more ecomomical.

Audi had the all aluminium back in 1994, despite the AWD drivetrain it's still lighter then it's RWD 7 series and S-Class counterpart even today.

— Heyhuub (View Profile)

Posted on 4/15/2008 7:46:01 AM | | Votes: -2   

I know the CSL doesn't have economy in mind, but it just proves that BMW has been cutting weight off there cars for over 30 years.
Also you could argue that the aluminum frame on the Audi wasn't to make the car more economical.I'm sure it did make it a little more economical, but that probably was not Audi's intentions. They just didn't want there car to weight almost 800 lbs more than the comp. which it would have if it used steel.
The point I was trying to make on the previous post is that BMW have been trimming weight off there cars for years, and they have been leading the pack amongst the luxury car makers in this area. Just wanted to state that b/c I know there are a few individuals who would like people to think otherwise. I'm just stating the facts.

— carE10 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/15/2008 12:12:45 PM | | Votes: 4   

I agree with you ZBL -- AMG customers want optimum power not green. Too bad we did not get the sulphur out of our diesel fuel sooner. Several future diesels will not arrive in North America in time for me. I love diesel's torque for mountain driving.

— EnnNorak (View Profile)

Posted on 4/14/2008 8:06:40 PM | | Votes: 2   

Its a term called "corporate responsibility"

— w209w114 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/14/2008 10:25:39 PM | | Votes: 3   

And impoving the fuel economy and emissions of low volume performance cars is more responsible than improving the fuel ecomony and emissions of high volume vehicles?

— ZBL1414 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/15/2008 5:58:28 AM | | Votes: 1   

Well they have just announced stop start systems for the A and B class, there's a new 2.1 diesel which is a lot greener, stop-start will probably appear across the range. Next E class for sure. And since the EU ruling is an average, it still makes sense to introduce these new systems, and where better than on the most expensive models so the costs are absorbed more easily before the economies of scale set in?

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 4/15/2008 7:46:26 AM | | Votes: 1