Mercury teases something special is coming

The inboard and outboard engine specialist today issued a save-the-date notice on social media so that people could “get ready to experience the evolution of premium performance”.

The new engine range is believed to be based on that used for the 600hp Mercury V12 Verado outboard engine launched in Australia early this year.

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The prime target is Mercury’s current range of 4.6-litre V8s that produce between 250hp and 300hp in the FourStroke and Verado range, as well as its smaller displacement but even higher-performance engines – the 2.6-litre supercharged in-line six-cylinder versions of the Mercury Verado that produce either 350hp or 400hp.

Hinting at the end of the line for the supercharged inline six-cylinder engine is the fact that Mercury’s 7.6-litre V12 is built as a modular system, meaning that all it needs to do to make a new V8 is lop four cylinders off the top of the V12 block to create a new 5.0-litre version.

That said, Mercury is unlikely to throw away years of supercharging experience, meaning it could also fit a blower to the new V8 to give it more low-down torque for better holeshot and mid-engine response.

The forced induction performance boost would give Mercury equal standing alongside Yamaha’s 5.6-litre V8, which can produce up to 450hp.

Mercury does have a 450hp engine in its range, but it is part of Mercury Racing's stable, the 450R, and uses a supercharged and race-hardened version of the 4.6-litre V8 used for the recreationally focused Verado range.

Also on the table is the trickle-down of V12 technology. When it was revealed last year, the new V12 pretty much threw out the rule book on conventional outboard engine building, coming equipped with steering built into the lower leg and a two-speed automatic transmission to help the twin-propped engine get a boat up on the plane, and then eke out fuel economy at cruising speeds.

It also had a steering system integrated inside the engine.

Any of these technologies could also now be part of Mercury’s plans for a new V8.

The Mercury V12 Verado was developed to help boatbuilders power a new generation of ever-larger recreational boats looking for better performance from fewer outboard engines strung across their transoms.

Of course, we could all be wrong. Rumour loves a vacuum, and so far everyone at Mercury has remained tight-lipped on what new developments are likely to be revealed next week.

The other thing is Mercury now has a history of ushering in a big surprise, as evidenced by the stunning V12 Verado.

A supercharged V12 producing 700hp? We wouldn’t rule it out just at the moment.