It might have only been a year since the C 63 S ditched its V8 engine for a hybrid four-cylinder, but Mercedes-AMG is already reportedly thinking of making a U-turn to eight cylinders for its upcoming 63-class models, according to Car and Driver.
Citing “two independent sources”, the publication says that the German carmaker is “considering” a return to the V8 engines for the C 63 and upcoming E 63 models in 2026, potentially with hybrid assistance as well, in response to backlash from its customers following the planned engine downsizing.
The all-new Mercedes-Benz C 63 S E Performance, announced in September last year, swapped the V8 engine for a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four from the A 45 hatchback, but augmented with electric power to make a total of 680 hp and 1,020 Nm of torque.
The upcoming range-topping AMG E-Class model meanwhile was rumoured to take on an inline-six turbocharged engine, and similarly assisted by some form of electrification. German publications have in recent months suggested that this particular model will be branded as the “E 53”, which could leave space for a V8-powered variant at the top of the line-up in the future.
According to “senior engineers directly involved in the matter” speaking to Car and Driver, the M177 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged engine is currently being modified to meet Euro 7 emissions standards, as the company plans to offer the engine beyond 2030, should the market conditions allow it.
The same engine – sans Euro 7 modifications – is already in use in the GT 63 S E Performance (that was only recently launched in Malaysia) and the S 63, both with electric assistance in the form of a plug-in hybrid, making up to 843 hp and 1,470 Nm in the former.
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For the all-new C- and E-Class, the engineers said that only “minor bodywork changes” are required in order to fit the V8 engine, alongside the required PHEV battery, electric motor, and auxiliary equipment.
It’s unclear where this will leave the all-new Mercedes-Benz CLE, though. Rumours suggest that the range-topping Mercedes-AMG CLE 63 model will feature the same 2.0-litre inline-four PHEV powertrain as the current C 63 S E Performance, though seeing as the CLE is supposedly a replacement for both the two-door C- and E-Class models, it only makes sense if it also gets the same V8 engine if the other two does.
