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, according to Carpoint. An example of what AMG can do when it builds a custom engine, the 63-series engine, which powers the CLS63 AMG among others, is a fire-breathing maniac of automotive excess, producing in excess of 500hp in various trims. Unfortunately, fuel consumption is similarly excessive, clocking in at 16.5L/100km (14.25mpg US) in the combined cycle.

This compares fairly well to cars like Audi’s RS6, which grinds out 573hp from its 5.0L V10 engine. Remember, these are the horsepower figures for family sedans - yet there are supercars that can barely rival such figures. In fact, Audi’s own R8 comes in over 150hp shy of the RS6. Perhaps it really is time to focus on things besides power.

 

You know I am sure this is an awesome car to drive but does it look like a tennis shoe to anyone else?

On another side note does anyone wanna let me in on why MB is calling their 6.2 V8 a 6.3?

[/hijack]

 

They didn't call it 'over'

Cafe did last year.

 

I think they've hit the plateau motorcycles did several years ago too.
Then it went to "weight wars", race to zero pounds...love those Gixers!

I think with CAFE changing, horsepower reaching deminished returns, Charlie's harping the next tune.

Smaller, lighter, stronger sportcars...look what it did for bikes.

You can buy a 200mph, 8sec crotch rocket for under $13K...!

 

The horsepower wars aren't over on the liter-class bikes - we've seen RWHP go from 135 on the R1 about 8 years ago to 165+ on the ZX10R nowadays. That's a "healthy" increase

Back to the original topic - I spoke with the head of Porsche Motorsport last November at the GT2 intro, and he basically echo'd what we're hearing from AMG - horsepower effectively will be capped by fuel consumption and CO2 emission rules, and that it's time to focus on lighter weight via advanced materials. This isn't all bad, IMO.

 

I've been waiting this to happen for some time now. Power has been going up and weight has too. Granted the power to weight ratio in most cars has been improving the whole time but along with it the fuel economy, handling, braking, and potentially even the cost of production has been increasing as well.

It's about time we focuses on doing more with less.

 

According to Edmunds.com:

"For M-B aficionados, the "63" numerals evoke a glorious past when the Stuttgarters offered the huge Series 600 limousine with a powerful 6.3-liter V8 called "M-100." In 1968, they stuffed that engine into the smaller 300 SEL, creating what was arguably the first European muscle car."

But of course AMG isn't the only one to lie about displacement for marketing reasons. Ford's 4.9L V8 and GM's 7L "427" V8 both fail middle-school mathematics.