The Death Of Mercedes-AMG’s V12 Will Mark The End Of An Era

When the automotive industry started to move towards turbocharged engines, hybrids and electrified powertrains, we had to say goodbye to one of the best motors of all time – the Mercedes’ M156 V8. Now, it looks like Mercedes-AMG is about to lay another one of its great engines to sleep.

The M156 V8 was a masterpiece, appearing in 2006 in a few of the automaker’s vehicles. Of note, those cars included the Mercedes-AMG E63, ML63, S63, CL63, and R 63 – remember that thing – and went on to be fitted to a handful of other machines. After winning everyone over, AMG placed the engine into the CLK63 AMG.

The engine was hilariously fitted to the C-Class sedan, which became the C63 AMG. Unlike the current variant’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8, the 6.2-liter naturally-aspirated V8 sounded like the ground was being ripped apart and imparted a muscle-car character to the vehicle. If you need a refresher, Chris Harris, as usual, found a great way to say goodbye to the machine back in 2014 for The Drive.

Saying adieu to the M156 was tough. But it looks like we’ll have to go through the same process with AMG’s V12 engine. Earlier this month, Mercedes-AMG chief executive Tobias Moers stated that AMG would stop using its V12 engines and phase out its vehicles with the iconic 65 badge.

A Thunderous Sound And Supercar Performance

The first V12 from AMG was code-named the M275 and was found in the S65, CL65, SL65, and G65. To get an idea of what the engine sounds like, here’s a short clip of the motor in a S65. When it first came out, the twin-turbo 6.0- liter V12 M275 put out a honking 604 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque. And, on top of its supercar-like figures, it also sounded amazing.

The M275 V12 stuck around until 2015, when it was ditched in favor of the M279. The M279 was based off of the M277 engine that was fitted to the 2014-2017 S600, S600 Maybach and Maybach Pullman. To make the M279 more potent and efficient, AMG fitted the motor with new turbochargers, new exhaust manifolds and new cylinder heads.

Once again, capacity stayed the same, as the engine’s rated to be a 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V12. The V12 was even more potent than before, generating 621 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque. Mercedes-Benz put out a video of the SL63 and SL65 carving up a curvy road together, which lets our ears pick out the more thunderous note of the V12.

If you want a V12-powered AMG, you better act fast, as the brand is moving away from V12s towards more V8s. Apparently, the SL65 will be the first of the magical V12-equipped cars to get the axe.

But there’s still some hope. Pagani, for instance, uses AMG’s V12 engines in its supercars. In the Huayra Roadster, the engine is code-named the M158 and is an axe-wielding 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 that AMG specifically designed for the automaker. And, as you’ve probably guessed by now, the motor sounds like nothing else on the road.

If there’s one thing about AMG, though, it’s that the automaker knows how to make a turbocharged V8 sound good. So maybe, just maybe, a good-sounding V8 will make the V12’s departure easier to stomach.