We lately sat down with Daimler’s R&D chief, Thomas Weber, who told us that the automaker will continue to produce V-12 engines but won’t do a 3-cylinder, that it’s considering a more complete update to the G-class, and that it isn’t interested in a tiny 6-seat men and women-mover.
C/D: BMW has shown a compact, 6-seat folks-mover with its 2-Series Gran Tourer. Will Mercedes have a competitor?
Thomas Weber: It’s true that we deemed a 6-seater, but we produced a clear selection not to do it, and we are sticking with that choice. There are cooler approaches to transport far more than 4 or 5 men and women. And for us, emotion counts.
What are you preparing at the other finish of the spectrum, with the G-class?
We have periodically revisited the thought of ending its production, but this discussion is actually more than. The basic notion is established and confirmed, the only question is how to carry it forward. It is feasible that we will, at some point, place it on a far more sustainable technological base. But the G will often remain a correct G.
Can you talk about your powertrain method?
The path toward downsizing is irreversible. Worldwide, looking at the industry as a complete, a lot more than 90 percent of powertrains will have 4-cylinder engines. But as a luxury brand, we will continue to offer you 8- and 12-cylinder engines, and we are effectively established with our 4- and 6-cylinder engines.
Does your 4- and 6-cylinder engine technique rely on a single engine architecture?
No. Our consumers like a range of models and engines, and we undoubtedly need a huge 4-cylinder engine, from which 6- and 8-cylinder engines will be derived. To construct a smaller sized engine, it would theoretically be possible to “cut off” one particular cylinder, but such a 3-cylinder engine would not even be close to where we would like it from a expense viewpoint. Furthermore, it would not meet our standards for noise and vibration. We have as a result decided to comply with a downsizing method based on modest and large 4-cylinder engines.
Will you join forces with other producers to create battery technology?
Within the framework of the NPE (a German platform for e-mobility), we are discussing how to move this crucial and innovative subject forward. It is undoubtedly achievable to harmonize cell formats, material combinations, safety and regulatory aspects—to make things less complicated for our supplier base and to reduce fees. But it becomes far more difficult when you look at the entire battery. Every single carmaker must optimize their batteries for the certain car package and specifications.
Do you see a future for battery-charging stations, as propagated by Tesla?
The German auto market has often been criticized as getting too obtuse to pick up on them. But we have studied them intensively and located that a lot of arguments speak against these concepts. We have decided not to adhere to this approach.
Daimler R&D Chief: G-class Could Go &ldquoSustainable&rdquo, V-12 Lives On, and No Three-Cylinders
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