One thing I do give Mercury a lot of credit for is building the packages they build with a lot more reliability than in the past generations. They may have a smaller product line but I have taken a shine to the 496's and 525efi's. Change is always faced with resistance but in these instances it is looking like they made the right moves. I would think if they just added a new drive/engine package tailored to the needs of someone looking for a 650-700 HP rig that a big gap would be filled. Just as an FYI Volvo-Penta has a nice 8.1 Liter package rated at 375HP and 420HP with DuoProps. Available with closed or seawater cooling from the factory. Anyone have one?

http://www.volvo.com/NR/rdonlyres/51...0/81_DP_03.pdf

I would imagine that the HP525EFI is destined for the boneyard in the not to distant future. Being a 502 based engine pretty much tells it all. GM has proved that the HP3 is a contender. Mercury is already using the 496 and will expand off GM's HP3. It's just a natural progression.
You have to ask, "Where are the 502 blocks being cast that are used in the HP525EFI?" Is it a Dart or Merlin? Should be at that price!
Personally, you can build a much better engine with aftermarket parts and for less money. I have done it and didn't use any GM parts. Not knocking the Mercury product but $46,000 for a performance motor and drive combo is pretty steep.

What type of warranty can you get with the 525efi ? I heard by many engine builders in south florida that the 502 is on its way out. How long will the 525 be around if the block is on its way out? How can you buy an HP3 vortech? innovation marine?

The HP500/500efi was based on a complete rotating assembly soured from GM Performance. This is a "has been" motor. Not going to be available any more.

The 525efi is a GM Performance BLOCK with hand fitted components. The GM 4.470 bore block (or at least a GM block capable of handling that bore size in a raw rough-bored configuration) will be available for a LOOONG time. No problems scrounging for parts to make that one..

Mixed feelings about the 575sci, though, cause the 525efi's closed cooling isn't going to support the additional horsepower that a blower will make (and there's a lot of folks planning to bolt blowers on em). The 575sci was a pretty good base (at 550shp) that was easy and cheap to crank up to 700hp - and the cooling system didn't require a load of upgrades..

I heard from a very reliable source that Merc will be out with a 640hp naturally aspirated engine in 05. No details yet.

a 525sc is a 454 with a blower and hasn;t ben produced for anumber of years now

the engine we're discussing now is eth 525 which is a 496.

let me ad in 496 with no blower

Ehhhhhhhh ... not exactly ...... it's a 502

Yes, the 525EFI is a 502 Block.