What is the new Mercedes-Benz Inline-6 Engine?

Mercedes-Benz Inline-6 Engines Go Back to the Future

At one point, millions of Mercedes-Benz vehicles used Inline-6 engines. They were easily developed and packaged in a wide variety of vehicles ranging from cars to limousines, trucks, and more. Inline-6 engines were mounted longitudinally (from front to back) in these vehicles and powered the rear wheels. They were powerful and smooth, befitting the luxury cars they were installed in.

Eventually, inline-6 engines fell out of favor with Mercedes-Benz in 1998. That same year, they introduced the first V6 engine in their history. Mercedes-Benz felt it was easier to take a V8 engine and remove two cylinders making it a V6 engine instead. But they could still take advantage of the same assembly lines and engine building facilities that the larger V8 engines were built on. Mercedes-Benz was thinking, why have two different factories when only one was needed.

That was until something better came along.

M256 Engine: Refinement in Six Cylinders

Inline 6 Mercedes-Benz M256 engineThat refinement comes from a new family of gas-powered Mercedes-Benz inline-6 cylinder engines. The new M256 inline-6 engine is part of a modular engine group that includes gas- and diesel-powered engines that can be built as either four- or six-cylinder powerplants.

In the case of the Mercedes-Benz Twin-Turbo M256 engine, think of it as a new type of straight-six engine with power that rivals many of the Mercedes-Benz V8 family. The twin-turbo Mercedes-Benz M256 engine makes V8 power from a much smaller package. It's the inline 6-cylinder engine that thinks it's a V8. With over 408 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, it rivals and even exceeds the power that comes from the twin-turbo V6 powering some of the brand's high-performance AMG® cars.

The new Mercedes-Benz inline-6 engine uses a traditional exhaust-driven turbocharger and an auxiliary electrical compressor. The new auxiliary unit has super-fast spin-up capabilities, charging the engine before the exhaust-driven system has a chance to spool up. As a result, peak power comes on almost instantly.

Mercedes-Benz Inline-6 Engine: Batteries are Included

With the new Mercedes-Benz M256 engine, batteries are included. Here, they are part of a mild hybrid system that includes a 48-volt battery to replace the 12-volt that has charged cars for eons. The system provides an 18-horsepower boost that in turn regenerates power by braking. There's other technology that makes this package special, including a combination starter/alternator to save weight.

Inline-6 Engines Keep things in Balance

A V6 engine is not as smooth running as a V8 with its even bank of four cylinders each. That's why many have used balance shafts to help smooth the operation. The inline-6 engine has three pairs of pistons operating in a synchronized fashion for added smoothness. While three of the alternating pistons are in the combustion or up position, the other three are in the exhaust or down position of the cycle. The process cancels out any unwanted vibration, resulting in a smooth ride for Mercedes-Benz Inline-6 engine vehicles.

Mercedes-Benz Inline-6 Engines are Back

With apologies to a famous movie featuring a heavily-modified DeLorean, the use of inline-6 cylinder engines is nothing new. It is a cost-effective way to get the power of a V8 with the lower costs of construction and operation of an inline-6 engine. Best of all these surprisingly efficient engines, the Mercedes-Benz M256 engine, are available now at Mercedes-Benz of Rochester.
So, to answer the question above:

What is the inline 6-cylinder engine Mercedes-Benz?

Mercedes-Benz new engine is the Mercedes-Benz M256 Engine. This is a twin turbo inline-6 engine. The Mercedes-Benz Twin-Turbo M256 engine produces over 408 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque.
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