Mercedes-Benz M120 engine

Mercedes-Benz M120 engine
Overview
ManufacturerMercedes-Benz
Layout
ConfigurationNaturally aspirated 60° V12
Displacement
  • 6.0 L (5,987 cc)
  • 7.0 L (7,010 cc)
  • 7.1 L (7,055 cc)
  • 7.3 L (7,291 cc)
Cylinder bore89 mm (3.5 in)
91 mm (3.6 in)
91.5 mm (3.60 in)
Piston stroke80.2 mm (3.16 in)
90.4 mm (3.56 in)
92.4 mm (3.64 in)
Cylinder block materialAluminium, Alusil bores
Cylinder head materialAluminium
ValvetrainDOHC 4 valves x cyl.
Combustion
Fuel systemSequential fuel injection
Fuel typeGasoline
Cooling systemWater cooled
Output
Power output394–850 PS (290–625 kW; 389–838 hp)
Chronology
PredecessorMercedes-Benz M154 engine
SuccessorMercedes-Benz M137 engine

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]

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

This 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:

E70 AMG

A 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

M120 E73 AMG engine

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

Main article: Mercedes-Benz M297 engine

In 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

The 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

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "SL 73 AMG". mercedes-benz-publicarchive.com. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  3. ^ “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.)
  4. ^ "Pagani Automobili | Zonda". Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
  5. ^ a b c "Zonda S | Pagani". Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  6. ^ a b "Zonda Roadster | Pagani". Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  7. ^ Radu, Vlad. "The Story of Mercedes' First Production V12 Engine and How It Became Legendary". www.autoevolution.com. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Pagani Automobili | Zonda | Zonda C12". Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
  9. ^ "Zonda C12". www.pagani.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  10. ^ "ZONDA C12 001". Geneva International Motor Show. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  11. ^ "Pagani Zonda C12 Full Specs, Features and Price". CarBuzz. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  12. ^ Jones, Edward (2015-05-11). "Pagani Zonda C12 GR Racing and Track Sounds". duPont REGISTRY Daily. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  13. ^ "Pagani Automobili | Zonda | Zonda R". Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
  14. ^ "2012 Pagani Zonda R Evoluzione Specifications". Ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  15. ^ "Pagani Automobili | Zonda | Zonda Revolucion". Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-27.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mercedes-Benz M120 engine.