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The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is gearing up for one of its biggest mid-cycle refreshes ever. But in addition to the usual suite of exterior and interior design updates, equipment upgrades, and more, it’s also getting a completely-new V8.
However, it’s not just any V8. Rather, according to various sources, who attended a recent media event and got a chance to sample the new S, the new V8 will feature a flat-plane crankshaft.
This is a huge development as it’s very unconventional for a humdrum luxury sedan to utilize a flat-plane crank engine. It also means the new V8-powered S-Class will be even more of a performance machine, especially for a non-AMG model.
The current W223 S-Class is gearing up for its biggest update yet.Mercedes-Benz
For those unfamiliar, a flat-plane crankshaft is an internal combustion engine component design often reserved for ultra-high-performance applications. Such applications include supercars, like Ferrari, McLaren and Lamborghini, and purebred racecars.
A flat-plane crank means its crank pins are arranged in a 180-degree alternating pattern, directly opposite each other. Nearly all other internal combustion engines typically utilize a more conventional cross-plane crankshaft design.