Mercury Racing's New Turbocharged Engines Unveiled

[WETTE VETTE]

Definately a very advanced design!! That makes me wonder what language it speaks? Is it a German design or something the Merc Racing guys dreamed up by themselves? Back when Mercury was building the early ZR1 motors for GM the design came from Lotus. So where did this one come from? Hopefully its from good old American ingenuty!! Either way its bad azz!! :USA:

 

[Matt Trulio]

It is a Mercury Racing design. The project has been ongoing for almost seven years.

 

[WETTE VETTE]

It is a Mercury Racing design. The project has been ongoing for almost seven years.

So its a new engine entirely and not based off some existing design?

Hats off to them for spending the cash and taking the time to create that monster. I suppose we can all look forward to a NA version and maybe even a turned up race only version in the not to distant future?

 

[C_Spray]

I'm certainly not known as Mercury fan, but I have to say it looks as if Mercury has covered all the bases in a very gutsy move. In particular, the use of direct injection in addition to 4-valve heads and sophisticated engine controls puts this package at the leading edge. I'm looking forward to seeing it tomorrow, particularly how the boost control is going to operate. Looking at the photos, there appears to be a sophisticated wastegate system integrated into the hot side of the turbos.

That being said, while this is an impressive accomplishment for the 2% of high-performance boaters that purchase hyper-power packages, it doesn't do anything for the remaining 98% of buyers in the 525-700hp and 700-900hp ranges. Being in the latter class, I'm going to vote with my wallet buy a 725/Indy at Ilmor tomorrow. That package is every bit as sophisticated at the level I'm looking for, short of the need for turbos.

 

[Lubejobs42]

I got the scoop on the motors right from one of Mercurys Racing big wigs. A few years back Mercury started the development on the 1300 engine. Between the economy going in the toilet and some other factors Brunswick didn't want to continue with the 1300 engine product. Fred Kiekhaefer decided to back/ fund the R&D of the entire project. Most of the components were developed overseas. There was actually a lot of input from Formula One parts manufactures. The reason most of the work was done over seas..."If the parts were developed here, people would not be able to keep their mouths shut and let the cat out of the bag"!

The motor is incredible. It is tuned at 1350 but by changing some air intake stuff it can immediately put out 1450. They say it is so over engineered that these motors will be putting out 1600 hp when people start tweaking them.

The idle at 600 RPM and are more user friendly for docking then the 525's.

The trannies are a 14 plate rather then the standard 11 plates that others use.

The drive is totally redesigned. They said the motors have so much torque the entire system had to be redeveloped as nothing else would be able to hold up to the torque.

 

[Ratickle]

So a couple of tweaked ones in your next boat Gino??????

 

[Steve 1]

That Motor is direct injected?? Smart move, Very hard to detonate low octane is just fine.

 

[Lubejobs42]

So a couple of tweaked ones in your next boat Gino??????

Actually, that was part of the conversation. They won't be available until Sept.

 

[cjordan]

It sounds like Audi or Mercedes fingerprints on this "development"....:driving:

 

[Chris]

I spent over an hour with Fred Kiekhaefer last evening. The platform is all in-house developed and based on their experiences with the outboards of the last few years. When you consider what it takes to engineer, develop the tooling and produce each of the myriad of parts in this engine, then put it all together and make it work, the project is certainly going to be one of those milestones in the sport.

 

[MarylandMark]

and while you were talking about their experiences with outboards, any new ones coming out any time soon? :sifone:

 

[stainless]

I spent over an hour with Fred Kiekhaefer last evening. The platform is all in-house developed and based on their experiences with the outboards of the last few years. When you consider what it takes to engineer, develop the tooling and produce each of the myriad of parts in this engine, then put it all together and make it work, the project is certainly going to be one of those milestones in the sport.

I know mercury had some porsche design input while developing the verado, I wonder if any spilled over into this engine? I also know the twin turbo I have in my V8 Porsche Cayenne turbo hauls ass and still runs great with 95k miles on it!
This quote is from an 04 mag interview regarding the verado.
" Claus Brustle, Mercury Vice President of R&D, said that he designed the new Verado used in the highest performing sports cars...and Claus should know as he is a former engineering manager at Porsche in Germany."
http://www.tackletour.com/reviewmercuryveradopreview.html

 

[Raylar]

Kudos!

Let's face it, the Kiekhaefers have always been the driving force, investors, innovaters, risk takers, racers, developers at Mercury Marine not the Brunswick Corporate board room wall streeters who run the corporation!
My hats of to the behind the scences people and I hope this engine family is nothing but a grand success, its good for our industry and sport!
This engine if it proves reliable and sucessful will be a watershed moment for the marine performance industry thanks to Mr. Kiekhaefer and the hard working people at Mercury and guess what they did a pretty good job at keeping their mouths shut!

Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar

 

[stainless]

Let's face it, the Kiekhaefers have always been the driving force, investors, innovaters, risk takers, racers, developers at Mercury Marine not the Brunswick Corporate board room wall streeters who run the corporation!
My hats of to the behind the scences people and I hope this engine family is nothing but a grand success, its good for our industry and sport!
This engine if it proves reliable and sucessful will be a watershed moment for the marine performance industry thanks to Mr. Kiekhaefer and the hard working people at Mercury and guess what they did a pretty good job at keeping their mouths shut!

Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar

:cheers2:

 

[Steve 1]

The Spirit of the iron fist Carl Kiekhaefer lives on there!

 

[Powerabout]

I assume it was desiged with the new emission regs that will come into place 2011 ( that could of been here this year)
So I guess it will be legal to sell into Europe?

 

[Powerabout]

i think it takes more power to spin a dry-sump oil pump than what a serp belt system can handle.

Yep
What I meant was it shoud be integral with the block, chain or gear driven like any other purpose built race motor so no external plumbing.

 

[2112]

I spent over an hour with Fred Kiekhaefer last evening. The platform is all in-house developed and based on their experiences with the outboards of the last few years. When you consider what it takes to engineer, develop the tooling and produce each of the myriad of parts in this engine, then put it all together and make it work, the project is certainly going to be one of those milestones in the sport.

The fact that it is 100% new is a fantastic accomplishment. The fact that is has design traits such as overhead cams and direct injection common with other powerplants in the automotive world would not necessarily lead me to believe Porsche/Audi or Mercedes had anything to do with it.

Between the economy going in the toilet and some other factors Brunswick didn't want to continue with the 1300 engine product. Fred Kiekhaefer decided to back/ fund the R&D of the entire project.

So does this mean that if Brunswick pulled the plug, Kiekhaefer could continue to produce these?

.

 

[Matt Trulio]

I assume it was desiged with the new emission regs that will come into place 2011 ( that could of been here this year)
So I guess it will be legal to sell into Europe?

As I understand it, according to Kiekhaefer, it meets EPA, CARB and EU standards.

Not too shabby.

 

[Lubejobs42]

The fact that it is 100% new is a fantastic accomplishment. The fact that is has design traits such as overhead cams and direct injection common with other powerplants in the automotive world would not necessarily lead me to believe Porsche/Audi or Mercedes had anything to do with it.




So does this mean that if Brunswick pulled the plug, Kiekhaefer could continue to produce these?

.

The way it sounded they didn't want to send the $ on R&D. Once they saw the finish/tested prioduct they decided to go with it. This is going to change performance boating. Imagine a 2 year warranty on a 1350 hp. That is unheard of. If Mercury is willing to stick their neck out for a full year, Obviously these motors are bullet proof!!