Mercedes S-Class Diesel Gets AMG Technology

NEW YORK – Mercedes-Benz engineers give the cylinders of the 3L Bluetec diesel in the recently introduced S-Class flagship sedan a thin coating of Nanoslide, lightening the engine and making it even more fuel-efficient.

Nanoslide technology, which has been used in AMG engines for five years, is a process in which twin iron/carbon wires are melted by electric arc and sprayed onto the cylinder surface of the aluminum crankcase.

Nanoslide process applies thin crystaline coating to cylinder wall.

This produces an almost mirror-like nano-crystalline smooth surface with fine pores. The coating then is honed to a thicknesss of 0.004-0.006 ins. (0.1-0.15 mm).

The result is up to 50% less friction and wear when the piston moves up and down against the aluminum cylinder wall, compared with a cast-iron cylinder liner.

The pores created by the Nanoslide coating permit better lubrication of the engine. Weight is reduced 9.48 lbs. (4.3 kg) and fuel economy improves 3% compared with Mercedesʼ last-generation diesel.

In addition, the engine meets the Euro 6 emissions standard slated to take effect in 2014, making it one of the cleanest diesels offered in a production car.

Daimler holds more than 40 patents on the process, which has been used in 75,000 AMG engines since 2006, when it made its debut with the performance brandʼs 6.3L V-8.

The Bluetec engine in the S-Class diesel is the first V-6 to get the coating.

Nanoslide is another example of Mercedes engineers using the high-performance AMG portfolio to perfect a technology, then migrating it to conventional vehicles once practicality and durability are proven.

Daimler won a MATERIALICA Design + Technology Award for the process earlier this month in Munich.