News Mercedes reveals 2014-spec F1 engine

It may be a year to go until they'll be used in a Formula One grand prix, but that hasn't stopped Mercedes-Benz from revealing their new, in-house engine for the 2014 season.

Though noticeably smaller in capacity than the current units (today's F1 cars are fitted with 2.4 V8s), the 1.6 turbocharged V6 engine – which is expected to be used by Force India and McLaren, as well as the factory-backed Mercedes team – promises that the power these new units develop will be close to what the current crop of engines can produce.

Mercedes claims that its new V6 develops the same 750bhp as the current V8 does, though that's also factoring what the new Energy Recovery System (ERS) contributes to the drivetrain's power output.

The current Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) adds an estimated 80bhp boost when deployed for up to 6.7 seconds per lap. The 2014-spec ERS device, on the other hand, can introduce approximately 161bhp for up to 33 seconds per lap.

However, according to Andy Cowell – the managing director of Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines – these new engines will also bring about benefits that the current naturally aspirated ones can not.

In an interview with Autosport Magazine, Cowell stated that "The engines will deliver much more torque – especially on the exit of the corners. Cars with more power than grip coming out of the corners – that is something that we all enjoy".

Cowell went on to state that criticisms and fears that the new engines would lack the aural spectacle when compared if the ones they replace were also unwarranted.

"The engines are going to be loud, but I think sweet sounding, The frequency will be higher and, with the turbocharger running at 125,000rpm, they will be loud. When you are stood next to it on the dyno it is not quiet and you need ear defenders",

Indeed, F1 reporters and commentators such as Sky Sport F1's David Croft confirmed on his Twitter page that the new powerplants would be as loud as we'd expect from a Formula One engine, and he appeared to be more than satisfied with them as a whole.

Which, whilst we'll have to wait a while before we get to hear these new engines for ourselves – allegedley, the engineers from other teams can make educated guesses about what makes up the Mercedes engine from its audible qualities alone – is certainly reassuring news for Formula One's many millions of fans around the world

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