Mercedes AMG says horsepower war is over

It looks like Chevrolet’s Corvette isn’t the only model or maker to decide that horsepower figures have reached a good resting point. Mercedes’ AMG head has declared horsepower is “not our main focus,” instead the company will be gathering effort to improve interior and exterior appearance and quality, handling and the rest of the “overall package.”

AMG is currently happy with their power and performance levels relative to the rest of the market, and while the company won’t completely rule out further power advances, it will focus its might on improving efficiency and lowering CO2 emissions. The latter will be of paramount importance if they brand hopes to continue for long in most of the nations that constitute its largest markets, and certainly if it wants to do business in the EU, and increasingly, the U.S.

One of the main changes that may fuel the increase in economy and decrease in emissions: not all AMG models may get unique powerplants. In fact, there’s a good likelihood that AMG models could share engines with the normal Mercedes-Benz cars they are based on
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r15mohd - 1/24/2008 10:45:13 AM

+3 Boost

i for one am glad...maybe now they can take the route of BMW and enhance the driving dynamics to match the engines power. AMG's are great vehicles but it's just so over-drowned in power that it becomes useless at points.

whereas BMW's power outputs are well delivered to the ground with little to no hesitation/interruption

r15mohd - 1/24/2008 10:45:54 AM

+1 Boost

hopefully GM takes a look at this as well...improve driving dynamics and leave the hp war to the exotics.

Threepoint1415926 - 1/27/2008 8:17:57 PM

+1 Boost

The last thing I want is for Mercedes to be a BMW clone. What I like most about AMG cars are that they are sledgehammers. It's what defines their character and I honestly love having that choice as a buying option. I'd hate to see it go.

Htay7500 - 1/24/2008 4:52:00 PM

+5 Boost

yes, they also need to shed the weight of their cars (like I've said before). Lighter=better weight distr. and performance.

EnvyofyouRS5 - 1/24/2008 1:56:42 PM

+2 Boost

hp wars are not over. strict limitations on fuel consumption, will not let companies like amg go out of business. thats what amg has always been about. power..

Anthony - 1/24/2008 2:18:02 PM

+2 Boost

"In fact, there’s a good likelihood that AMG models could share engines with the normal Mercedes-Benz cars they are based on."

Well then what will be the point? You can already add an AMG package to the 'normal' Mercedes models to make them look like AMGs. I assumed that people who buy AMGs do so mainly for the superb engine upgrade.

S4cabriofoxone - 1/24/2008 5:33:39 PM

+2 Boost

I hope that isn't true, because the 6.2L V8 is an incredible engine and I would be very sad to see it go.

Who wants a C35 AMG??? LOL.

S4cabriofoxone - 1/24/2008 9:42:37 PM

+2 Boost

Well, THOSE C-Classes had their own engines.

The one I would object to would be a C35, because I really don't want the same engines as in the stock models to go in the AMGs.

S4cabriofoxone - 1/24/2008 5:32:10 PM

+1 Boost

Not according to Audi and BMW...

tattedtwice - 1/24/2008 7:05:17 PM

-2 Boost

Good move, m-b. Now concentrate on creating some designs that aren't eyesores, fix the godawful exhaust notes on amg models, and work on creating a chassis that can actually handle that kinda HP.

chewy - 1/25/2008 1:50:39 AM

+3 Boost

Turbos are the way to go. The RS6 has 70+ more horsepower and about 15% better fuel economy.

Designer1 - 1/25/2008 5:46:12 AM

-1 Boost

Ah, MB admitting on its own that its quality is garbage, good move.

M53R - 1/25/2008 1:02:58 PM

+2 Boost

Are we looking at the same article?