奔驰近日宣布，明年将推出3.0升直列六缸高科技引擎，而AMG将对该引擎进行性能升级以使其搭载在E50 E级轿跑车上。目前还不清楚这台引擎具体的输出功率，但奔驰表示标准版功率超过300千瓦/408马力，扭矩超过500牛米。奔驰将这台直列六缸引擎命名为M256，它采用带有电子辅助压缩器的涡轮增压器，集成起动机-交流发电机，在提供混动额外动力的同时进一步降低油耗。奔驰表示，这样的布局使其功率达到V8引擎水平，还没有涡轮迟滞现象。该引擎将首先应用于S级，随后下放至更低端车型。未来的E级轿跑车还将搭载奔驰的2.0升四缸涡轮引擎。欧洲消费者可选择柴油四缸和六缸引擎，但此类引擎不会出现在美版车上。从谍照看，E级轿跑车造型顺滑，类似C级和S级轿跑车。奔驰对车辆内装进行了改进，使其与轿车有所不同，仪表板略微改款，增加了新的空调出风口和运动座椅。E级轿跑车将在明年1月的北美车展首次亮相，随后将于下半年上市。

 

Mercedes E-Class AMG E50 coupe coming with new inline six cylinder

Mercedes-Benz’s recently announced high-tech 3.0-liter inline six will hit the road in 2017, and AMG will reportedly tune the engine for a model of the upcoming E-Class Coupe called the E50. The exact output of this high-speed Autobahn cruiser isn’t entirely clear, but Mercedes says the standard version of the powerplant makes over 408 horsepower (300 kilowatts) and more than 369 pound-feet (500 Newton-meters) of torque.

 

Mercedes calls the new inline-six the M256, and it features a turbocharger with an electric auxiliary compressor. An integrated starter-alternator saves fuel by offering an extra boost of hybrid power. The German automaker claims this layout gives the mill the output of a V8 and is virtually lag free. The powerplant will arrive first in the S-Class before trickling down to other vehicles.

 

Further down the lineup, the E-Class Coupe would also be available with tunes of Mercedes’ 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. Europeans would have the choice of diesel-fueled four- and six-cylinder powerplants, but they are unlikely to be available in the United States.

 

Spy shots show the E-Class Coupe with a sleek look in a similar vein of the two-door versions of the C- and S-Class. Mercedes differentiates the interior from the sedan by giving it a slightly tweaked dashboard with new air vents and sport seats.

 

The E-Class Coupe will debut in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. Sales will begin in the latter half of the year.