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Image: - Mr Frederick Eichler, Head of Engine Development, Mercedes-AMG

This is the second consecutive victory for the world’s most powerful naturally aspirated production V8 powertrain, and it’s clear to see (and hear) why. Revving to a screaming 7,200rpm, the all-aluminium 6,208cc powerhouse develops a 525bhp, 630Nm punch, clearly showing AMG’s motorsport roots.

This remarkable engine owes its character to its lightweight, rigid closed-deck crankcase and its cylinder walls with revolutionary LDS coating, as well as valve gear with bucket-type tappets in the cylinder heads for high engine speeds.

Together with the variable intake manifold with two integrated throttle flaps, the flow-optimised intake and exhaust ducts ensure perfect cylinder charging and high output.

The result is high-revving thrills coupled with immense low-down torque, ensuring agility and responsiveness. 0-60 comes in a mere 4.6 seconds.

The jury has been captivated by this engine’s charms, especially Jason Cammisa, West Coast Editor at Automobile Magazine in the USA. He stated, “The perfect embodiment of a hot-rod German V8, AMG’s high-rpm screamer singlehandedly turns elegant sedans into maniacal demons. Very fast maniacal demons.”

Rivals have tried and failed to woo the judges with some deeply impressive engines in this category, including Jaguar’s supercharged 5-litre V8, BMW’s 5-litre V10 and 4.4-litre turbo, Lamborghini’s 5.2-litre V10, and Porsche’s 4.8-litre V8 turbo. However, they have all been shouted down by the Affalterbach V8 – even Ferrari’s screaming 570bhp 4.5-litre V8 only managed a distant second. This is the final hurrah for AMG’s 6.2 though, with a 5.5-litre twinturbo V8 waiting in the wings its first application coming in the new S AMG sedan. The new unit will satisfy growing demands for greater fuel economy and lower emissions, but AMG promises there will be no compromise with power. AMG could be the one to watch again next year.