Chapter 239: We Don't Think Much of Mercedes‑Benz Engines

Currently, the Mercedes-Benz NG80 heavy truck mainly offers two engines: a 10.96-liter V6 engine, model OM441, output 300 horsepower; and a 14.6-liter V8 engine, model OM442, output 290 horsepower.

Wait, the latter has lower output?

This is of course because Mercedes-Benz just fitted the V6 engine with a turbocharger, so its power naturally increased, while the V8 engine is still in the naturally aspirated stage.

At this point, Mercedes-Benz is planning to fit the V8 engine with a turbocharger; raising its power to 400 horsepower should be no problem, but further increasing it to 500 horsepower is still difficult.

Besides these, Mercedes-Benz also has an 18.3-liter V10 engine with turbocharging, output up to 500 horsepower; ordinary trucks can't use it, but in the heavy‑haul sector this engine is the mainstay!

Not only is the power 500 horsepower, the torque also reaches 2000 N·m; this power output is absolutely formidable!

One could say, even if you stuffed it into the rear of a Type 59 tank, its power output would still exceed that of the original 34‑liter V12 engine, and its durability would be greater as well!

However…

This is merely early‑1980s technology.

In later years, many heavy trucks on the road exceed 500 horsepower; the Freedom‑produced Weichai AW6DN1, with a 12.53‑liter displacement, already delivers 500 horsepower and 2300 N·m torque, and the Yuchai YK11 series, with a 10.98‑liter displacement, likewise matches that power and torque!

It's only the 1980s now; getting the Mercedes‑Benz V6 to output 500 horsepower is a tall order, but getting the V8 to 500 horsepower shouldn't be that easy either?

This isn't Qin Miao boasting; after all, Steyr's WD615 engine already outputs over 350 horsepower, and fitting it to match Mercedes‑Benz is equally not difficult!

Moreover, historically, the OM442 engine used in Mercedes‑Benz heavy trucks in the 1990s was already upgraded to 503 horsepower and 2020 N·m torque.

"If the V8 can output 500 horsepower, then couldn't the V10 output 700 horsepower?" Karl‑Kenspel, who had come along, exclaimed excitedly.

Qin Miao nodded: "That's right; the Mercedes‑Benz heavy truck must have the king of power."

Loit took a deep breath: "Fine, if we can boost the V8 power to 500 horsepower, then you can choose whatever engine and transmission for our Mercedes‑Benz heavy truck!"

This temptation is huge! Mercedes‑Benz heavy trucks boast being number one in the world, but MAN, Scania and others are hot on their heels!

With 500‑horsepower V8 and 700‑horsepower V10, the Mercedes‑Benz brand would still be the loudest; launching a 700‑horsepower vehicle would dazzle everyone's eyes!

Zhang Wanhe let out a sigh of relief; San Shui, could you let us know in advance how you're going to toss things around? My back is already sweating!

"Mr. Qin, we originally only intended to export complete‑vehicle technology, but considering your help in the engine field, we are willing to also export the engine production line to you—for just US$200 million, including both technology and the production line."

These Germans aren't just ordinary black‑mailers! Zhang Wanhe's heart clenched again.

We haven't even negotiated the cost of importing the heavy trucks yet, and just the matching engine fee is already this high!

Qin Miao shook his head: "No need."

"Why?"

"Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"

"Of course the truth!"

"We don't think highly of your engine."

The Germans present almost spat out a mouthful of old blood; this is the first time anyone has looked down on a Mercedes‑Benz engine!

Zhang Wanhe actually understands: it's not that we look down on it, but that importing everything at once would be too expensive! That's why Qin Miao earlier suggested using the Steyr drivetrain—this is naturally an important means to lower localization costs.

Since the domestically produced Mercedes‑Benz is to be paired with a Steyr engine, there's really no need to import it right away—US$200 million? Good grief, even the Qingshan Factory can't afford that!

"What's wrong with our engine?" Loit, barely suppressing his anger, asked Qin Miao: "If you can't name one, two, three, I'll still have the driver turn the car back to the airport!"

"The era of V‑type engines is over; we believe the straight‑six layout is the way to go."

That sentence left the Mercedes‑Benz visitors silent.

For historical reasons, Mercedes‑Benz heavy‑truck engines are all V‑type, with cylinders on both sides, making the block structure complex, the crankshaft complex, requiring two valve‑train sets and two cylinder heads… therefore, this kind of engine costs more than a straight‑six.

Customers choose the expensive Mercedes‑Benz for performance, but if a straight‑six and a V6 delivered the same performance, the straight‑six would obviously be better.

In fact, this view already exists inside Mercedes‑Benz; some people hope to switch to a straight‑six layout when developing the next‑generation engine, and that result later became the OM471 engine.

"We believe a displacement around 12 liters is the golden displacement for heavy trucks; developing a brand‑new straight‑six engine of that size, paired with a novel asymmetrical turbocharger and a high‑pressure common‑rail system, would allow output to start at 350 horsepower and later expand to 500 horsepower—saving fuel while still delivering strong power."

Qin Miao switched to bragging mode; never mind whether the technology used on the later OM471 can actually be done now—let's brag first and talk later!

"And regarding exhaust emissions, we know that Europe's environmental consensus is becoming ever clearer; truck exhaust must continually reduce pollutants, and we can also use advanced technology to lower emissions, benefiting the world… after all, we only have one Earth."

Zhang Wanhe felt as if he were listening to heavenly scripture; nowadays, developing the economy comes first—who would care about pollution?

But it's obvious that Europeans place great importance on it!

"May I ask… what technology do you use to reduce exhaust emissions?"

"Cough cough, well… sorry, I can't say, unless…"

"If Mercedes‑Benz and you jointly develop a heavy‑truck engine, following the indicators you just mentioned?"

From importing Mercedes‑Benz engines to joint R&D, this is a huge leap! Zhang Wanhe was stunned; he never expected the Germans to lower their stance so much!

Qin Miao was also stunned.

Reducing exhaust emissions is easy; start with EGR technology—recirculating exhaust back into the engine to burn again; later comes high‑pressure common rail; then adding urea, no lock, spraying urine…… material onto the exhaust pipe, so some harmful substances in the exhaust are broken down.

These are all topics studied by automotive engineers after the 1990s; nowadays no one could think of them, and even if Qin Miao merely presented the concept, it could fool the Germans.

He just wanted to brag a bit; he never expected the Germans to actually want to cooperate and jointly develop an engine?

After a moment of shock, he hesitated and said: "Well, we could contribute our existing technology as equity, valued at US$5 million, you put up US$5 million in cash, we form an engine R&D structure to jointly develop this new engine—how about that?"

What a great opportunity—seize it! Not only do we need to bring the Germans on board, we also need to get them to put up money!