The New 6-Litre 12-Cylinder Engine for the New Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Mercedes-Benz presented the new S-class in spring 1991. A new 6-litre, 12-cylinder engine with 4-valve technology has been developed for the top model, the 600 SE/SEL, which is described in this paper. The engine has a maximum power output of 300 kW and a maximum b.m.e.p. of 12.2 bar (= 580 Nm). Maximum permissible constant engine speed is 6000 rpm. The new engine features a light-alloy crankcase and shares the 4-valve cylinder heads as fitted to the 6-cylinder engine, in this case each with two camshafts. Further components are the LH electronic fuel injection system, two motor-driven throttle valves, anti-knock control, two variable valve timing systems. All electronic engine functions are interlinked by a CAN interface.