Mercury Marine is at it again, as if the exciting launch of its new 3.4L V6 outboards at the Miami Boat Show back in February wasn’t enough for 2018. The multiple new 4.6L V8 outboard engine models include the 250 and 300hp Verado, 250 and 300hp FourStroke, and 200, 225, 250 and 300hp Pro XS, plus the Pro XS 175hp 3.4L V6. Consumers have been waiting in anticipation for a V8 release like this and the wait is officially over.
Select members of the boating media were invited back to Lake X in Florida – the top-secret testing facility for Mercury Marine – to put the throttle down on these new powerful giants and our visit didn’t disappoint. We were on this lake a couple of months earlier to test and review the new V6 outboards and it turns out it was only the beginning.
These next-generation outboard engines are part of the largest single new-product development program Mercury has undertaken in its nearly 80-year-history, which has prompted a major investment in expanding its manufacturing footprint.
“In Miami, we said the V6 was step one of our 2018 introductions and we are thrilled to officially announce step two,” said John Pfeifer, Mercury Marine president. “These new V8 engines, like the V6, will set a new benchmark in the marine industry in the eyes of the consumer.”
Mercury’s new V6 and V8 outboard engines are highly configurable to meet the needs of a wide variety of boating segments including the pontoon and deck boat market. From Verado’s refined performance, to the FourStroke’s fuel efficiency and rigging versatility, to the competitive edge that Pro XS provides serious sport fishermen, these new V8 are especially a great fit for high-end pontoon models. Along with the 3.4L V6 family released in Miami, the new V8 engines fill out Mercury’s industry leading portfolio in the 175-300hp range.
“These engines are naturally aspirated, durable, powerful and provide options for the consumer that they’ve never had before,” said Pfeifer. “This new lineup aligns with what consumers are asking for and we are delighted to deliver it to them.”
New 250 & 300hp Verado
Replacing the existing inline-6 four-stroke Verado line is the new FourStroke Verado, available in 250 and 300hp 4.6L V8 versions. The AMS (Advanced Midsection) makes the Verado unique in that it isolates all sound and vibration from the transom. According to Mercury officials, sea trials have shown the 300hp Verado is up to 20 percent quicker and two mph faster than its closest competitor, while still providing up to eight percent better fuel economy. Let that last sentence sink in a little.
The V8 Verados are compatible with Mercury Joystick Piloting for Outboards for maximum maneuverability and control, and feature Mercury-engineered digital controls and electro- hydraulic power steering for smooth operation. Equipped with Adaptive Speed Control, they deliver increased throttle response and a “sportier” feel.
Berkshire
There were a dozen or so boats in the water on Lake X, but naturally I was drawn to the pontoons. The Berkshire Ultra 25 SW 3.0 TT was powered with the new 250hp Verado V8. With an Enertia 16 pitch prop our zero-to-20mph time of 3.0 seconds was extremely impressive with a top speed of 48.9 mph recorded at 6000 rpms. Exclusive Advanced Sound Control technology allows users to toggle between ultra-quiet operation and a “throatier”-sounding sport mode and you better believe we gave this feature a try.
New 250 & 300hp FourStroke
The new 250 and 300hp V8 FourStroke outboard engines are high-tech without being highstress, delivering powerful performance while remaining quiet, efficient, reliable and strong. The high-displacement, quad-cam design of the new V8 powerhead generates plenty of torque, especially at mid-range. According to Mercury reps the 300hp FourStroke delivers up to 9 percent more torque than the nearest competitor at 3500-4500 rpm. It boasts class-leading 4.6L displacement yet is the lightest in the 300hp class by more than 10 pounds. Combine ample power with lightest-in class weight, and the result is exhilarating FourStroke performance from a highly reliable engine.
Barletta
Powered with the new 300hp FourStroke, the Barletta L25U was at home with this V8 beauty on the back and this is another boat I was able to get on during the media event. At wide open throttle (6005 rpms) we reached a top speed of 48 mph with an Enertia 16.5 pitch prop with a zero-to-20mph time of 4.3 seconds on this 27-footer.
These new FourStrokes are also exceptionally versatile, offering consumers choices between mechanical or digital (DTS) controls and hydraulic or power steering. This versatility makes them the ideal outboard engine choice for repowering a wide range of different hulls. The new V8 FourStroke engines are also available in multiple colors and can be further customized with the addition of an accent panel.
Mercury’s Warm Fusion, Cold Fusion and Pearl Fusion white cowl color options plus the popular Phantom Black, combined with five factory accent color panels and “paint-ready” panels, let owners mix and match or paint their own panels to further personalize their engine. These colors are available for both the V8 FourStroke and the V8 Verado outboard engines.
New 175-300hp Pro XS
The new 175 V6 and 200, 225, 250 and for the first time ever, 300hp V8 Pro XS outboard engines are quite simply the next generation of tournament-winning performance. Featuring Mercury’s new compact cowl, these engines deliver everything the serious fisherman needs to stay competitive on the water, including ample torque from their high-displacement powerheads and superior acceleration due to their quad-cam design and Transient Spark technology. The 250hp V8 Pro XS bested the leading competitor in both acceleration and top end in sea trials – and delivered up to 16 percent better fuel economy at cruise according to Mercury officials.
All V6 and V8 Pro XS engines feature Adaptive Speed Control, which maintains the driver’s desired rpm regardless of load or condition, and 200-300hp Pro XS models are available with either mechanical or digital controls.
The Pro XS performance-tuned exhaust tone is engineered to deliver a brawny sound quality that is guaranteed to turn heads, yet is quieter than the competition at cruise and top speed. Dial in the new Pro XS models with a wide selection of Mercury propellers, and the fish had better watch out.
Looking Ahead
For the two-stroke lovers, the venerable Mercury OptiMax series goes away with the introduction of all these new four-strokes as well as the 16 supercharged Verado series, except the 350 and 400R models from Mercury Racing. Those two remain and despite being “only” six-cylinders versus the new V8s, are still Mercury’s horsepower kings at 350 and 400. This latest round of product releases is exciting for the outboard industry and it kind of makes you wonder out loud, what possibly could step three be for Mercury?
