Confirmed: The Mercedes-AMG C63 Won't Regain a V8 in the Future
The Mercedes-AMG naming system has long defined entry-, mid-, and high-level cars, but enthusiasts had plenty to say about the brand’s move to a hybrid four-cylinder engine in one of its most iconic current models. The newest C63 dropped its fantastic V8 in favor of a complex four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain, and while we reported on the rumors that have pointed to the eight-cylinder’s return, Mercedes-AMG’s CEO recently put all speculation to bed.
Speaking with The Drive at the recent Monterey Car Week in California, CEO Michael Schiebe said he could “definitively deny” that the V8 would return to the C63 or E63. He also noted that the company felt it was headed in the right direction, with much of the industry following suit, pointing out that “there are many more performance hybrids coming to the market now. Or at least they’ve been announced.”
The upcoming E63 is expected to get an electrified inline-six-cylinder engine to place it a step above the C63 in AMG’s catalog, but it’s clear the shift to fewer cylinders doesn’t mean less power. Despite an almost 800-pound weight gain, the new C63 S E Performance delivers 671 horsepower and a massive 752 pounds of torque. The V8’s sound was a significant part of the overall 63-level package, but it appears to be the only casualty in the shift. That said, the car’s extra weight has garnered some less-than-stellar opinions from some critics.
[Image: Mercedes-AMG]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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You gotta give Mercedes credit with this move. Rather than deliver on any AMG experience whatsoever, they are 'all in' to overpromising something that badge used to mean while guaranteeing it underdelivers.
It's that kind of passion, commitment, focus and determination that Mercedes used to put into quality products that they are now dedicating to wringing out every ounce of value the AMG badge used to mean. Slow golf clap for Mercedes-Benz leadership. Well done, fellas.
Just waiting for a brown manual transmission AMG diesel wagon to hit the market before I pull the trigger.
Yeah, V8s, V12s, and diesels are going rapidly extinct. BMW has announced that there will be no 5 series V8 (possible exception M5 which isn't out). MB putting a 4 banger in a 100K car, MB has balls to charge that much! GM plans to retire the 5.3 V8 and 4.3 V6 with its 2.7L 4 banger. Compliance engines for the win, for a little longer anyway. We need to get in line with the religion of killing the car. Its road diets, lowered speed limits, bike lanes, tiny homes and veganism for the win! After all you can never be too safe or health conscious.
The manufacturers are happy to put turbo I-4s in everything because they're cheap to make.