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©1998 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc. Mercedes-Benz Press Release: 1998 is "The Year of the V8" forMercedes-Benz in America in light of newly unveiled eight-cylinderproduction models such as the CLK430, ML430, C43 and E430. In keeping withits more than 100 years of racing heritage, however, the three-pointed staralso has a new competition V8 - the Mercedes-Benz IC108E CART engine - toshow the world at the North American International Automobile Show, inDetroit's Cobo Hall, Jan. 5. "Because the new Mercedes-Benz IC108E Indy car engine shares manyof the same qualities that our new passenger car engines have - it'ssmaller and lighter with improved power and fuel economy - we chose tointroduce it alongside the new eight-cylinder passenger vehicles," said HalWhiteford, vice president, operations, Mercedes-Benz of North America. "Although the technology is different, the spirit is the same." The successor to the highly successful IC108D, with which Mercedescaptured the 1997 CART Manufacturer's Championship on the strength of ninewins in 17 races, the IC108E is a "clean sheet of paper" design. Theall-new 2.65-liter turbocharged V8 would fit into a box almost one-thirdsmaller than its predecessor. Thanks largely to lessons learned withMercedes' winning Formula One engine program, it is some four inchesshorter and 50 pounds lighter than the champion IC108D. "The goal in designing the IC108E was to make it as small asphysically possible given the 2.65-liter, eight-cylinder format mandated byCART rules, and in so doing, make the engine as light as possible byminimizing the number of parts," explained Paul Ray, vice president, IlmorEngineering, the race engine-building arm of Mercedes-Benz. "In order toaccomplish the downsizing, it was necessary to package components much moredensely and in much closer proximity to one another than we ever hadbefore." Design of the all-new Mercedes-Benz CART engine commenced inOctober, 1996, and after an initial start-up on Aug. 8, 1997, the IC108Eunderwent extensive dynamometer power and durability testing. Thepowerplant enjoyed a successful first on-track run with Marlboro TeamPenske and driver Al Unser Jr. Dec. 8 at Firebird International Racewaynear Phoenix. "We met - in fact surpassed - our goals, reducing the engine'sheight, width, length and weight significantly," continued Ray. "And thechassis manufacturers, in turn, took advantage of the size reduction toimprove the aerodynamic characteristics of the upper bodywork and maximizeair flow to the rear wing, increasing downforce and stability." For 1998, Mercedes-Benz will supply engines for CART's FedExChampionship Series to five teams with eight drivers including: MarlboroTeam Penske with Unser and Andre Ribeiro, PacWest Racing with Mark Blundelland Mauricio Gugelmin, Player's/Forsythe Racing with Greg Moore and PatrickCarpentier, Hogan Racing with J.J. Lehto and Bettenhausen Racing/TeamAlumax (driver to be announced). How Small Is Small? The successor to the highly successful IC108D, with which Mercedes capturedthe 1997 CART Manufacturer's Championship on the strength of nine wins in17 races, the IC108E is a "clean sheet of paper" design. The all-new2.65-liter turbocharged V8 would fit into a box almost one-third smallerthan its predecessor. Thanks largely to lessons learned with Mercedes'winning Formula One engine program, it is some four inches shorter and 50pounds lighter than the champion IC108D. "The goal in designing the (Mercedes-Benz) IC108E was to make it as small asphysically possible ... We met - in fact surpassed - our goals ..." - PaulRay, Ilmor Engineering 1997 IC108D 1998 IC108E Percent Reduction Length 561mm 466mm 17%Width 555mm 490mm 12%Height 599mm 560mm 7%Volume 186.5dm3 127.9dm3 31% Source: Mercedes-Benz USA | ||
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