BMW and Mercedes are renowned for their great auto-mobile making.   Their competition and quest for improvement has helped them in maintaining the leadership position in the automotive world for decades. Their ability to fit and tune the varied powerful engines to their legendary models are remarkable.

I was a great fan about the way they used to model their cars. BMW with their 3,5 and 7 series while Mercedes with their C,E and S Class always made clear of the target segment. Their last few digits indicated the engine capacity.

BMW continued to have models named like  318, 320, 325, 330, 525, 540, 730, 740 and Mercedes kept producing like C180, C200, C240, E240, E280, E300, S320, S500.

In the case of BMW the last two digits indicated the size of the engine, for example:

• 318 has a 3 series model with a 1.8 litre engine
• 530 has a 5 series model with a 3.0 litre engine

Where as, Mercedes had the  last three digits indicating the size of the engine, for example:

• C200 has a C class model with a 2.0 litre engine
• E350 has a E class  model with a 3.5 litre engine

Such a naming convention for their models simplified us to understand the size of the engine used, their relative power, torque and fuel consumption. Year after year, the model names have been so consistent that many car fans were able to relate the model’s performance besides the shape, interior and finesse. Of course, there were a few exceptions on few models like 323 where BMW had fit in 2.5 litre engines on selected markets. I would assume it is for marketing and competitive reasons.

In the recent years, both these giant car makers are introducing many turbo engined cars.  Turbo engines were always related to racing cars. They were known for their high torque, abrupt power, turbo-lag and unreliability! However,the good news is that the new turbo engines of these German auto mobiles are very graceful and smooth. In fact to a level, where the legendary silky  6/8 cylinder engines are being replaced by lesser cylindered turbo. The other great advantage being much improved fuel consumption, reduced carbon emissions and thereby lowering the running cost.

Though being 4 cylinders, with their own technology of twin-turbos and super-chargers they are able to release multiple models with different levels of performance. Below is a sample on how the model names are losing their significance:

• BMW 2011 523  has a 3.0 litre 6 cylinder engine
• BMW 2012 523 and 528 have their own 2.0 litre 4 cylinder turbos and 2013 520 also has 4 cylinder turbo
• Mercedes 2011 C180, C200 both have 1.8 litre 4 cylinder turbo engines where as C230 has a 2.5 litre 6 cylinder
• Mercedes 2012 C250  also has a 1.8 litre 4 cylinder turbo engine and the CLA45 has a 2.0 litre 4 cylinder turbo

Audi, another formidable German car maker, has been using Turbo engine for a longer period but successfully with lesser confusing model names. The same applies to M series of BMW and AMG of Mercedes. Atleast, one can be sure about what to expect from these specialized teams and its always been the ‘newer is better’.

It will be interesting to see how the model numbers reflect as these car makers introduce more hybrid and electric engines. One thing for sure, the legendary model names do not have any more significance for BMW and Mercedes to reflect the true performance and experience of driving.