Mercedes Benz CL63 AMG 5.5-liter biturbo engine

The new AMG 5.5-liter biturbo engine combines performance, innovation and efficiency to a previously unknown extent. This is made possible by a unique combination of innovative high-tech systems such as direct gasoline injection, twin turbochargers, air/water intercooling and the Controlled Efficiency stop/start function. The 2011 AMG CL models will be in U.S. showrooms this November.

Mercedes-AMG is systematically following the trend towards increasing efficiency: with a displacement of 5461 cc it is precisely 747 cc below the 6208 cc of the naturally aspirated AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine. Nevertheless, it develops more output and torque. The 2011 CL63 AMG develops a peak output of 536 hp and maximum torque of 590 lb-ft. In conjunction with the AMG Performance Package these figures increase to 563 hp and 664 lb-ft. The torque curve in particular shows that no other engine in this power class is able to match the figures delivered by the new AMG biturbo motor.

Despite an increase in horsepower and torque as compared to the naturally aspirated V8, AMG engineers have been able to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions considerably. With an estimated fuel savings of 27 percent, engine specialists consider this to be nothing less than a quantum leap. CO2 emissions have likewise been significantly reduced by approximately 30.

These improvements in efficiency and environmental protection have no negative effects on the car's performance. On the contrary, as the new AMG 5.5-liter V8 biturbo fully lives-up to AMG's brand commitment to "performance": the CL63 AMG accelerates from zero to 60mph in 4.4 seconds, and has a top speed of 155 mph (electronically limited). With the AMG Performance package, the highperformance Coupé reaches the 60 mph mark in 4.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 186 mph (electronically limited).

Combination of twin turbocharging and direct gasoline injection

Mercedes-AMG is presenting an attractive high-tech package with its combination of biturbo charging and direct gasoline injection with spray-guided combustion. The innovative injection technology brings distinct advantages to fuel consumption and exhaust emissions, thanks to higher thermodynamic efficiency. Particularly fast and precise piezo-electric injectors spray the fuel into the combustion chambers, ensuring a homogenous fuel/air mixture and highly effective combustion. An electric low-pressure pump delivers the fuel from the tank to a high-pressure pump in the trunk with a pressure of 87 psi. The fuel pressure in the highpressure rail is controlled between 1,500 and 3,000 psi on a fully variable and demand-related basis.

Two turbochargers and efficient air/water intercooling

Two turbochargers located next to the cylinder banks supply the eight cylinders with fresh air. At their maximum speed of 185,000 rpm under full load, the two turbochargers force 3,860 lbs into the combustion chambers per hour. The maximum charge pressure is 14.5 lbs, and 18.8 bar with the AMG Performance package. Thanks to their specific, compact construction - the turbine housings are welded to the exhaust manifold - there are significant space advantages and the catalytic converters also heat up more rapidly.

The new AMG V8 is the first turbocharged engine to dispense with the usual blow-off valve. This innovative solution enables the compressor housing to be made extremely compact. To ensure agile responsiveness with no time lag, all the air ducts in the intake tract are as short as possible. The wastegate valve, which reduces the pressure in the exhaust system during negative load changes, is vacuum-controlled via an electropneumatic converter. This allows dethrottling under partial loads, which in turn lowers the fuel consumption.

Like the existing AMG 6.0-litre V12 biturbo engine, the new eight-cylinder directinjection unit uses very efficient air/water intercooling. The low-temperature cooler with its water circulation is space-savingly accommodated within the V of the cylinder banks. It effectively cools down the intake air compressed by the turbochargers before it enters the combustion chambers, and maintains a constantly low intake temperature under full load. A large radiator at the car's front end ensures metered cooling of the water circulating in the low-temperature circuit. This guarantees a high output and torque yield in all ambient temperatures and operating conditions.

Extremely short charge-air ducting makes for outstanding responsiveness. The stainless steel pressure pipes for the fresh and charge air are produced by the hydroforming process, have a wall thickness of only 0.03 inches and are designed for very low pressure loss.

Aluminum crankcase with Silitec cylinder liners

The crankcase of the new AMG 5.5-liter V8 biturbo engine is made of diecast aluminum. The low (dry) engine weight of just 450 lbs is the result of uncompromising lightweight construction methods, and leads to the car's very balanced weight distribution. The bearing cover for the main crankshaft bearings is of grey cast iron, and is bolted to the crankcase for high rigidity. Cast-in Silitec cylinder liners ensure that the eight pistons operate with low friction.

Drilled pulsation holes in the crankcase lead to a higher output and fuel savings under partial load: above the bearing blocks there are longitudinally drilled holes which connect adjacent crankcase cavities. Normally the upward and downward movement of the pistons causes air to be forced into and extracted from the sump, which leads to increased internal friction losses and therefore a reduction in output. The pulsation holes prevent this by ensuring effective pressure compensation between the cavities.

The forged crankshaft of high-grade 38MnS6BY steel alloy rotates in five main bearings, has eight counterweights and has been optimized with respect to torsional rigidity, inertia, low rotating masses and a long operating life. A twomass viscous damper mounted at the front reliably eliminates vibrations. Each connecting rod journal on the crankshaft carries two forged, cracked connecting rods. In the interests of low mechanical friction and high wear resistance, the lightweight pistons have a metallic contact surface. Pressure-controlled oil-spray nozzles in the crankcase ensure that the highly stressed piston crowns are efficiently cooled.

Four-valve technology with variable camshaft adjustment

Perfect charging of the combustion chambers is ensured by large intake and exhaust valves, of which there are four per cylinder. The exhaust valves, which are subject to high thermal loads, are hollow and sodium-cooled. Four overhead camshafts operate the 32 valves via low-maintenance, low-friction cam followers. The infinitely variable camshaft adjustment with a range of 40 degrees on the intake and exhaust sides depends on the engine load and engine speed, leading to outstanding output and torque values. This also results in consistent idling at a low speed.

Depending on the engine speed, valve overlap can be varied for the best possible fuel/air supply to the combustion chambers and efficient removal of the exhaust gases. The variable camshaft adjustment is carried out electromagnetically via four pivoting actuators, and is controlled by the engine control unit. The camshafts are driven by three high-performance silent chains, which have considerable advantages in noise comfort compared to cylinder roller chains.

Efficient oil supply and water cooling

Efficient oil delivery under all load and operating conditions is ensured by an oil pump with an electrically controlled compression stage. The oil pressure can be varied between 29 and 48 psi, which has advantages in terms of friction and fuel consumption. An extraction stage integrated into the oil pump for the two turbochargers prevents oil from being mixed into the charge air and exhaust gases, thereby helping to reduce emissions even further. Both the sump and the extraction point have been optimized for maximum lateral acceleration and efficient lubrication. The oil capacity is 11 quarts.

The combined water/oil cooling system is a particularly innovative solution: initially the engine oil only flows through the oil/water heat exchanger. If the cooling performance of the very compact cooler is insufficient, the flow is directed through the external engine oil/air cooler by an oil thermostat. The advantage of this system is that the engine oil warms up (via hot engine coolant) more rapidly. A selectable water thermostat ensures rapid warming of the coolant when starting the engine and driving off.

The engine coolant is cooled using the particularly effective crossflow principle. There is a transverse flow of coolant through both the crankcase and the cylinder heads. Additional cooling slots in the cylinder head ensure more efficient cooling of the combustion chambers, which has advantages during combustion: it enables earlier ignition timings to be chosen without incurring the risk of knocking.

Highly efficient engine electronics for every function

All the engine functions are executed and controlled by a particularly efficient Bosch MED 17.7.3. control unit. This state-of-the-art engine computer not only controls the direct gasoline injection, charge pressure, camshaft adjustment and variable oil supply, but also communicates with all the other onboard control units. The microprocessor has more than 30,000 different parameters and functions stored in its memory, and is able to perform up to 260 million individual operations per second. To reduce the load on the engine control unit, the eight individual ignition coils have an integral electronic module known as an ignition amplifier at each cylinder. These ensure a strong ignition spark at all engine speeds and under all load conditions. Eight highvoltage powerstages are responsible for highly precise fuel distribution to the piezoelectric injectors.

Effective emissions technology with new catalytic converter boxes

The requirements for the exhaust system of the new AMG 5.5-liter V8 biturbo engine were complex: low exhaust emissions, compliance with country-specific standards and a characteristic AMG engine sound. The CL63 AMG complies with all the current EU-5 emission standards, as well as meeting all the requirements of the US market (LEV-II standard, On-Board Diagnosis II and lambda sensor diagnosis).

The turbochargers are welded to the exhaust manifolds, while air gap-insulated manifolds with a wall thickness of only 0.04 inches ensure a rapid catalytic converter response. For efficiency and to save space, this concept has a tandem catalytic converter housing on each side of the vehicle: adjacent to the firewall, two thin-walled ceramic substrates are grouped into each housing. This solution makes the previous, additional underbody catalytic converters unnecessary. The two ceramic substrates differ to ensure rapid and efficient emissions control: the front one is coated with palladium, while the rear one has a bimetal coating of palladium and rhodium. One lambda sensor per row of cylinders is located in front of each catalytic converter housing, and there is a lambda diagnostic sensor between each of the two thin-walled substrates.

The lambda sensors are necessary for demand-related lambda control. In all operating conditions, the components of the intake mixture can be precisely controlled to avoid damaging the catalytic converters. This also benefits fuel consumption under full load, as the mixture can be leaner than in engines without this control system.

Twin-pipe AMG sports exhaust system for a characteristic sound signature

The twin-pipe AMG sports exhaust system has a pipe cross-section of 2.76 inches from the manifolds to the rear silencers. When designing the sound, the aim was to create a perfect synthesis of aggressiveness and the comfort on long journeys that is the hallmark of a Mercedes. The goal of the developers was to achieve an emotional experience when accelerating and rev-matching, but unobtrusiveness at constant speeds. Unpleasant frequencies or droning noises were effectively eliminated during a series of painstaking tests. The sports exhaust system emits a sonorous eight-cylinder sound that is typical of AMG, while the striking chrome twin tailpipes feature a new design.