Mercury Racing's all-new 400R V10 is performance defined. With Mercury Marine's recently introduced all-new 400hp naturally aspirated v10 5.6 liter Verado outboard, Mercury Racing made an already impressive engine even better. Our testing of these engines on Biscayne Bay proved they are worthy of consideration.
Designed primarily for boats that will run more than 75 miles per hour and run at 6000-6600 WOT RPM, these performance engines are built for speed, power, and performance. Impressively this is all accomplished with standard 87-octane fuel. Based on the all-new narrow Mercury V10 block forged in their own factory and taking cues from the massive V12 600hp Verado, these engines are designed to mount 26 inches on center, making it an easy choice for a new build or a refit. Building on that block and Mercury's quad cam four valve design (QC4), the 400R is a 5.7 liter naturally aspirated outboard, breathing a whole lot more air than the 400hp standard model. Utilizing a 92mm throttle body, a Mercury Racing tuned intake, and a specially designed throttle body servo motor, this naturally aspirated engine can outperform comparable outboards with superchargers. Combining all this technology and a race-developed fuel pressure sensor that instantly provides the exact amount of fuel needed throughout the power curve, the result is an instant and powerful throttle response no matter where you are on the throttle. All that performance can be controlled and felt through the engine's Digital Throttle and Shift controls. The already impressive feel of these throttle control systems can also be enhanced with the addition of Mercury Racing's Digital Zero Effort Controls, truly fine-tuning your performance craft. Although user experience at the throttles is a definite advantage, these controls can aid in getting the most out of these outboards with Mercury's Adaptive Speed Control that maintains the engine's RPMs even with varying sea conditions and forces on the engine.
High performance on these outboards extends into the mid and lower sections. The mid-section has beefed-up guide plates and an engine mounting system built to meet the demands of a high-performance, high-speed engine. It is able to do this while isolating all this power from the transom, creating a smoother ride. Common on many race engines, there is also an option available for a rear-mounted tie bar to solidify the link between engines. There are two gear case options available for these high-performance engines. One is meant for heavier boats looking to get maximum performance from the 400R. The 5.44 HDgear case option is ideal for those boats that need a gear case that needs to sit lower in the water, while the Sport Master gear case is designed as a surface piercing gear case good for lighter boats that will run in access of 85mph. Both utilize a speed-churning 1.60:1 gear ratio. The appropriate propellers can be selected from Mercury racing line of props along with their new line of Ventera propellers, designed specifically for the new 400 and 400R.
Other features of the 400R include a high-output alternator pushing out 150-amps. This new alternator will have no problem keeping up with high-end audio systems and an array of marine electronics. Electro-hydraulic steering is available, and electric steering is standard with any boat equipped with joystick (JPO) piloting. The 400R is available in Mercury's Phantom Black, Cold Fusion White, or in a paint-ready configuration for custom paint jobs. With a standard 3-year warranty, these high-performance outboards can be optioned with an extra five years of coverage. That's eight years of coverage on a high-performance racing engine.
Once again, Mercury Racing it out of the park with the 400R. The performance out on the bay was unlike anything in its class. If you are looking for excellent power and performance throughout the power curve and an engine that sounds as great as it performs, Mercury Racing's 400R is well worth investigating.