2012 Mercedes SLK55 WILL get 5.5 litre V8

2012 Mercedes SLK55 to get naturally aspirated 5.5 litre V8 (2011 SLK photo)

2012 Mercedes SLK55 will get the naturally aspirated version of Mercedes new 5.5 litre V8 with 416bhp, active exhaust and cylinder shut-off.

You never really know until it’s officially announced, but we did expect the 2012 Mercedes SLK55 to get the new 5.5 litre V8.

When Mercedes revealed the new SLK back in January, we knew there were still two more versions to come for 2012 – the SLK55 and the Diesel SLK – and that we’d get the official details later. Well, now it’s later – at least for the SLK55.

Expected to debut in production form in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the 2012 SLK will get the same engine that’s started to crop up in Mercedes performance cars to replace the 6.2 litre V8, but unlike those installations – such as the latest E63 – the SLK55 will have to make do without the twin turbos.

Just like the current SLK55, the new SLK55 will feature a naturally aspirated version of the current Mercedes powerhouse. The lack of turbos is partly because the turbo lump is not an easy fit under the SLLK’s snug snout but also because it would probably eclipse other far more expensive Mercedes if it had the full-fat version.

But even without the twin turbos, the SLK55 will still develop 416bhp, up from 360bhp in the old car and more even than the SLK55 Black Series Mercedes built in 2006. That will be enough to make the SLK55 more than decently lively, although we have no official figures yet.

The 5.5 litre V8 will also come equipped with stop start, cylinder shut-off – allowing it to run on just four pots in low-load situations – and an active exhaust for a quiet time when poodling but the full V8 roar when the throttle gets used in anger.

Sounds a promising car. More details as soon as we get them.