The Mercedes-Benz M120 engine is a naturally aspirated high-performance automobile piston V12 engine family used in the 1990s and 2000s in Mercedes' flagship models. The engine was a response to BMW's M70 V12 engine, introduced in 1987. While the 5-litre BMW unit developed 300 metric horsepower (220 kW), Mercedes-Benz upped the ante considerably by creating a 6-litre, 300-kilowatt (408 PS) engine.[1]
| Mercedes-Benz M120 engine | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz |
| Layout | |
| Configuration | Naturally aspirated 60° V12 |
| Displacement |
|
| Cylinder bore | 89 mm (3.5 in) 91 mm (3.6 in) 91.5 mm (3.60 in) |
| Piston stroke | 80.2 mm (3.16 in) 90.4 mm (3.56 in) 92.4 mm (3.64 in) |
| Cylinder block material | Aluminium, Alusil bores |
| Cylinder head material | Aluminium |
| Valvetrain | DOHC 4 valves x cyl. |
| Combustion | |
| Fuel system | Sequential fuel injection |
| Fuel type | Gasoline |
| Cooling system | Water cooled |
| Output | |
| Power output | 394–850 PS (290–625 kW; 389–838 hp) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Mercedes-Benz M154 engine |
| Successor | Mercedes-Benz M137 engine |
The M120 family was built in Stuttgart, Germany. It has an aluminium engine block lined with silicon/aluminium. The aluminium DOHC cylinder heads are 4 valves per cylinder designs. It uses sequential fuel injection (SFI) and features forged steel connecting rods.
The M120 was eventually replaced by the smaller (5.8 litres), lesser-powered, short-lived, SOHC, three valves per cylinder M137 V12 engine. Mercedes ceased production of the M120 because of new emission rules.
E60
editThis engine developed 394–408 PS (290–300 kW; 389–402 hp) and 420–428 lb⋅ft (569–580 N⋅m) of torque for the 6.0 L version. In 1992 only, the M120 engine was offered in North America in 402 hp (300 kW; 408 PS) format and from 1991-92 408 PS (300 kW; 402 hp) in Europe. All other years (1993–1999) have the 394 PS (290 kW; 389 hp) version.
Applications:
- 1991–1998 600 SE / 600 SEL / S 600 (W140)
- 1992–1999 600 SEC / S 600 Coupé / CL 600 (C140)
- 1992–2001 600 SL / SL 600 (R129)
- 2004 Chrysler ME-412
- 1993 (1995?) Isdera Commendatore 112i
- 2005 Laraki Borac
- 2003 Laraki Fulgura
- 2000 Lotec Sirius (with twin-turbo version of M120 engine)
- 1996–1999 Mega Monte Carlo
- 1992–2000 Mega Track
E70 AMG
editA 7.1 L (7,055 cc) version was also used in the SL 70 AMG, S 70 AMG and CL 70 AMG, and produced 496 PS (365 kW). Another 7.1 L (7,055 cc) version with 510 PS (380 kW; 500 hp) was used for SL 72 AMG, S 72 AMG and CL 72 AMG cars.
E73 AMG
edit
There was also a 7.3 L version producing 525 PS (386 kW; 518 hp) developed by AMG which was also used in the SL 73 AMG, S 73 AMG and CL 73 AMG.[2] The 7.3 L M120 engine was also featured in the AMG-built, S 73 T Kombi, a custom-built W140 S-Class wagon for the Sultan of Brunei. Eighteen units were produced, ten of which went to the Sultan.[3]
M297
editIn 1997, the FIA GT Championship race car Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR was fitted with the M297 engine, derived from the M120. The 25 road cars, required by the FIA rules and delivered in 1999, had their engine enlarged to 6.9 L.
Pagani Zonda
editThe Pagani Zonda has used three different capacities of Mercedes-AMG tuned versions of the M120 engine, starting with the untuned 6.0 L for the original Zonda C12 to a 7.0 L version for the C12-S and Zonda GR, then to the 7.3 L for the Zonda S 7.3/Zonda Roadster, and back to the 6.0 L for the Zonda R and the Zonda Revolución. The bore and stroke of the 7.3 L version is 91.5 mm × 92.4 mm (3.60 in × 3.64 in).[4][5][6]
Applications:[7]
| Year | Model | Displacement | Power output |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Pagani Zonda C12 | 5,987 cc (6.0 L; 365.3 cu in) | 408 PS (300 kW; 402 hp)[8] or 450 PS (331 kW; 444 hp)[9][10][11] |
| 1999 | Pagani Zonda C12-S | 7,010 cc (7.0 L; 427.8 cu in) | 550 PS (405 kW; 542 hp)[5] |
| 2002 | Pagani Zonda S 7.3 / Zonda Roadster | 7,291 cc (7.3 L; 444.9 cu in) | 555 PS (408 kW; 547 hp)[5][6] |
| 2003 | Pagani Zonda GR | 7,010 cc (7.0 L; 427.8 cu in) | 600 PS (441 kW; 592 hp)[12] |
| 2009 | Pagani Zonda R | 5,987 cc (6.0 L; 365.3 cu in) | 750 PS (552 kW; 740 hp)[13] |
| 2012 | Pagani Zonda R Evoluzione |
760 PS (559 kW; 750 hp)[14] | |
| 2012 | Pagani Zonda Revolución | 800 PS (588 kW; 789 hp)[15] |
References
edit- ^ Dackevall, Gunnar (1991-04-04). "Rött är rätt" [Red is Right]. Teknikens Värld (in Swedish). Vol. 43, no. 7. Stockholm, Sweden: Specialtidningsförlaget AB. p. 60.
- ^ "SL 73 AMG". mercedes-benz-publicarchive.com. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ “AMG Gmbh Mercedes-Benz S73 T Kombi: 7.3L V12 Battleship Archived 2011-04-17 at the Wayback Machine,” VelocityResource.com January 26, 2011. (Retrieved 2011-02-02.)
- ^ "Pagani Automobili | Zonda". Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
- ^ a b c "Zonda S | Pagani". Retrieved 2023-11-12.
- ^ a b "Zonda Roadster | Pagani". Retrieved 2023-11-12.
- ^ Radu, Vlad. "The Story of Mercedes' First Production V12 Engine and How It Became Legendary". www.autoevolution.com. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ "Pagani Automobili | Zonda | Zonda C12". Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
- ^ "Zonda C12". www.pagani.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
- ^ "ZONDA C12 001". Geneva International Motor Show. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
- ^ "Pagani Zonda C12 Full Specs, Features and Price". CarBuzz. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
- ^ Jones, Edward (2015-05-11). "Pagani Zonda C12 GR Racing and Track Sounds". duPont REGISTRY Daily. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
- ^ "Pagani Automobili | Zonda | Zonda R". Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
- ^ "2012 Pagani Zonda R Evoluzione Specifications". Ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
- ^ "Pagani Automobili | Zonda | Zonda Revolucion". Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
See also
edit