The M176/M177/M178 is a petrol V8 engine range designed by Mercedes-AMG, replacing the M278 and M157 engines, and is based on the M133 engine.
The engine has two BorgWarner turbochargers positioned between the two cylinder heads in a "hot-V" configuration. The fuel injection system uses Bosch's new piezo-electric direct fuel injectors that deliver five squirts of fuel per combustion cycle.
The M176 engines are mostly assembled by machine with some components assembled by technicians at Untertürkheim manufacturing center outside Stuttgart. The M177 and M178 are individually assembled by the technicians in "one man, one engine" principle at the AMG manufacturing center in Affalterbach.
The M176 version debuted in 2015 for the Mercedes-Benz G 500/G 550 and G 500 4x4<sup>2</sup>. In 2019, M176 was equipped with EQ Boost mild hybrid 48V electrical system, producing additional output and of torque. This mild hybrid system was fitted to GLE 580 4MATIC and GLS 580 4MATIC. The M176 engine with EQ Boost has been upgraded in 2021 for S 580 4MATIC with increased output for petrol engine () and decreased output for EQ Boost ().
The M177 was the first variation released in the Mercedes-AMG C63. In contrast to the M178, this version of the engine uses wet-sump lubrication. In the C63 and GLC63 applications, the turbos are single-scrolled, whereas in E63 and S63 are twin-scrolled and different exhaust manifold. The twin-scroll application also features cylinder deactivation.
As part of the agreement with Mercedes-AMG since 2013, Aston Martin installs the M177 engines in the DB11 V8 and DB11 Volante (2017âÂÂ), Vantage (2018âÂÂ), DBX (2021âÂÂ) and DB12 (2023âÂÂ).
In late 2019, the 48V system used in the M176 was added to the M177 engines for extra performance, improved fuel consumption, and reduced emission output.
The M178 is the second variation in the family, geared toward higher performance and motorsport. The versions were introduced in Mercedes-AMG GT (C190). The power has been upgraded several times. Brabus offers PowerXtra B40S-800, a performance upgrade kit for AMG GT. The kit increases the output to at 6,500 rpm and at 1,750-4,500 rpm.