2017 Mercedes S-Class will debut new range of Mercedes engines and 48v electrics

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class facelift will be the first Mercedes to receive a new range of cleaner, smaller, more powerful engines and 48v electrics.

Mercedes-Benz has revealed a new range of engines – debuting in the 2017 S-Class facelift – which follow a similar route to Jaguar Land Rover’s Ingenium and Volvo’s Drive-E engines by adopting a modular design based on 500cc cylinders.

that simple design allows engines with different cylinder configurations to be built on the same line, and although Mercedes has only announced fours, sixes and eights, it seems likely that three-pots will follow too.

The new (M 256) 3.0 litre straight-six (yes, a straight) petrol delivers 408bhp and 369lb/ft of torque (well up on the current V6’s 333bhp), and the new four-cylinder 2.0 litre petrol (M 264) is promised to deliver 268bhp (although that’s the maximum – lower output versions are likely).

There’s also a new 3.0 litre straight-six diesel (OM 656) good for 313bhp and 479lb/ft and an AMG twin-turbo 4.0 litre with cylinder deactivation (M 176) good for 479bhp and 516lb/ft of torque.

Mercedes-Benz 48-volt architecture

The move to a 48v architecture is a big bonus in lots of ways.

By supplying four times the power at the same current it can mean weight savings, but it also means that many belt-driven ancillaries – like air con and water pumps – no longer drain engine power to work.

An integrated Starter Generator (ISG) made possible by the 48v system also manages boost and energy recovery, and an e-booster uses the additional power for accessible torque.

Despite Mercedes starting to head down the Ev route with EQ, this range of engines makes ICE fit for a long time to come.