The New 8-Cylinder Engines 5.0 and 4.2 Litre for the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The VS engines for the new Mercedes-Benz S-class first shown to the public at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1991 are, in terms of their basic mechanical design, identical to the 5-litre V8 engine familiar from the 500 SL. In addition, a 4.2-litre engine has been developed on the same mechanical basis, which rounds off the performance range at the lower end.

The deck height of the crankcase of both engines is the same and has been reduced compared to the SL engine. This has made it possible to standardize exhaust manifolds, intake pipes, major assembly mountings and a large number of parts for the 4.2-litre and 5-litre versions and thus facilitates their production and assembly. Electronic fuel injection with air mass sensor and cylinder-specific fuel metering is part of the new engine management system. A motor-driven throttle valve is used for the first time for air management, which at the same time controls and stabilizes engine speed. Injection, air and ignition management are networked with a high-speed serial databus. These three system components interact to achieve favourable emission and consumption levels and optimum performance in every operating range.