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Merc to revive straight six, plus 4cyl and smaller V8s

Mercedes has just signed off a new engine family which will see most full-sized Mercs in future run four-cylinders, downsized V8s and… straight sixes. A friendly Mercedes engineer recently met CAR to disclose the engine plans for future models, including the surprise disclosure that Merc plans to switch to straight sixes, like its rivals over in Munich.  It's fair to say I almost choked on my breakfast croissant when I found out the details of the next MB engine generation which has just been signed off for release in 2015. Mercedes' future four-cylinder engines Again, there will be a family of new low-cost fours, and the big-bore V8s will be replaced by a series of downsized turbocharged 4.0-litre units.

Engine of the Year Winners: Ford 1.0 litre EcoBoost is top dog

Ford’s 1.0 Litre EcoBoost wins Engine of the Year 2013 If anything is going to overturn the received wisdom that all small cars should come with a diesel engine, it’s Ford’s 1.0 litre EcoBoost engine. Torquey, lively and frugal, the 1.0 litre EcoBoost engine is a little marvel, a fact recognised for the second year running by the judging panel for the Engine of the Year Awards,  which has given the 1.0 litre EcoBoost the highest ever marks in the award’s fifteen year history. A total of 87 car journalists from 35 countries were hugely impressed with the power, torque and small size of the Ford engine, with one journalist, Peter Lyon, commenting: “Who’d have believed it?

Mercedes GLA 45 AMG Concept: Los Angeles Auto Show (video)

The Mercedes GLA 45 AMG Concept has been revealed in LA Over the weekend we had a teaser video from AMG for the GLA 45 AMG Concept, although Mercedes didn’t actually name it as such. But a GLA with the same powertrain as the A 45 and CLA 45 AMG is exactly what Mercedes’ AMG concept tease was, and it’s now been revealed in LA ahead of a likely debut in production form in 2014. The GLA 45 AMG Concept gets bold graphics – something buyers would be unlikely to want – and 21″ forged alloys painted matt black with a red rim and red brake callipers to shout its intent.