In an age when the V12 and other large, high-displacement engines are being silenced by fuel and emissions regulations, few automakers are still using the sonorous powerplants, and even fewer are developing new ones.
Mercedes-AMG must have missed the memo, because according to Autoblog, a product planner from the organization revealed that a new halo car is on its way. The new model is still several years off, however, as Mercedes-Benz will get more life out of its AMG GT in the form of a Black Series variant in the next year or so.
Powering the supercar will be a new 12-cylinder engine that will be paired with an electric motor and battery to rival similar setups from Ferrari, McLaren, and Porsche. The results will most likely be the most powerful production Mercedes-Benz ever created. The electric components won’t just be a performance booster though, as the new model will be able torun on electricity alone for a short distance.
On the V8 front, Mercedes-AMG plans to apply its new 4.0-liter V8 to a few models like the E63 AMG when the next generation launches in 2016.
Mercedes-Benz has yet to develop a true supercar to rival the world’s best, so it will be interesting to see if the planned model has what it takes to lure exotic car shoppers from the established breed of elite performers.
