... with a car. No, actually – with an engine to be more precise.

You see, the death knoll was sounded for the internal combustion engine a long time ago. But, it just seems to be getting better-and-better. Paradoxically, the further along the road we seem to come to replacing it – the further away we actually get from finding a replacement. The electric car just isn’t a viable real-world solution at the moment, and hybrids are simply too expensive to make an impact. Meanwhile, the trusty old engine continues to get more refined & efficient – and astonishingly more powerful at the same time.

Moreover, it’s served us so well for so long that there’s bound to be a bit of emotion involved. It’s a bit like your pet Labrador – you’d be loathe to put it down, no matter how old and useless it got. Or, perhaps we can relate to an engine because it’s like a beating heart. Either way, a good one – an engine that is – can set your heart racing in a way that the battery pack from even the world’s greatest super computer simply can’t fathom.

The engine that I’m referring to in this instance is the 6.2 litre V8 from the Mercedes Benz AMG range. It’s raw & visceral, and loud & emotive – it simply has so much anger and fury that it provokes you till you react with a prod of the throttle. It really does heighten your senses and stir something within your soul. Don’t get me wrong, I believe that we need to save the environment. So, if I’m exaggerating here (which I’m not), it’s simply to point out the massive void that would need to be filled by an electric motor or fuel cell.

Or would it? After all, straightforward technologies in an internal combustion engine, such as direct injection and turbocharging, can improve fuel mileage by 30% and reduce CO2 emissions by 20%. And that’s to say nothing of micro-hybrid technologies such as start-stop systems, or even simply improving thermal efficiency by incorporating electronic power steering and the like. No, this isn’t a pipe dream – all this technology is readily available today.

So, there you have it – you’ve got the best of both worlds. Multiple turbos keep the power on tap and the enthusiasts entertained, while those same turbos, coupled with other existing technology, also improves efficiency and lowers emissions.

Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to use the last bit of fuel in the tank of the C63 to enjoy a long, lurid powerslide – courtesy of the 450 horsepower produced by this old-school, naturally aspirated V8 beast of a motor!


Dhruv Behl
dbehl@autox.in