Dr. WOT

All F1 motors use pneumatic valves, and have been for years. Renault introduced it around 1991. They are innovators, MB hasn't come up with much since they invented the car 120 years ago.

JonBoy

I'm not sure if MB invented the car (I thought the Model T was the first mass-produced vehicle), but either way, that's quite an invention, regardless of what they've done since, don't you think?

Elistan

While F1 engines do use a pneumatic system, it's only as a replacement for valve springs - the valves are still opened by cams.

http://www.indiacar.com/index2.asp?pagenam...al/pvengine.htm

That's quite a bit different from an entirely camless engine.

Slamnasty

Mercedes did more or less develop the first "horseless carriage" back in the 19th century.

I would however disagree that they haven't done anything since. They developed, and continue to develop, a lot of safety technologies that the wider industry thus adopted. They had airbags 20 years before anyone else really used them. They've also lent a lot to other technologies through the history of the automobile. I can't really cite everything they've done, because I don't know all of it, but they most certainly have not been stealing from others for 100+ years.

wil687

[QUOTE=Slithr,Apr 17 2006, 08:55 AM] It looks like Mercedes will be first on the block with a production camless engine in the C class.

watermelonman

Everyone wants to build a camless engine. It's not that hard. The problem is cost. BMW was saying their prototypes, put into production, would cost something like 5-15x that of their current engines.

The Hoth

OK, MB with more technology.......

I'll pass. Don't they have enough technological innovation already?


In my opinion, this is just one more reason to bring the cars to dealers for repair.

tunerjetta29

Thats right, might as well just go back to them there old carbeurators! Good old reliable technology haha

dmz

Camless engine technology has been around for years. Ducati have been making camless desmodromic motor for their bike since the late '70s . The only difference is that MB is going to do this electronically. I don't think there is going to be any advantage in RPM gain since you still have to deal with piston speed, but this will definatley make for a more compact motor.

Incubus

This looks like one cam to me. This is a "Desmodromic" valve setup. One cam doing everything. None other than Mercedes Benz did it in the 1950s with the Gullwing (1954).