Looks like Mercedes-Benz is starting to realise that the current 2.0-litre turbocharged hybrid four-cylinder in the Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance is not hitting the spot with the AMG fans, as Autocar reports that the company is planning to replace it with a 3.0-litre inline- six engine for the C63 facelift, and has apparently been “confirmed” to the publication by the carmaker.
The publication pointed to sluggish sales of the current turbocharged four-cylinder powertrains as the reason for the potential change of powertrain. Just how sluggish, you wonder? Carscoops recently reported that sales of the Mercedes-AMG C63S is “close to zero” back in its home country of Germany. Down in Australia, Drive says that the BMW M3 Competition has outsold the C63S by nearly 50%.
The current 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain (PHEV) in the Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance produces 680 hp and 1,020 Nm and sends the sedan from 0-100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. Despite having more power than the brawny V8 it replaces, it clearly didn’t quite appeal to the Affalterbach enthusiasts.
No word yet on power figures for the replacement 3.0-litre inline-six engine, but Autocar reports that it’ll still retain the PHEV portion in its engine. The set up is a development of the mild-hybrid powertrain currently in use in the Mercedes-AMG CLE53, E53, and GLE53.
In the CLE53, the 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six mill churns out 449 hp and 560 Nm, with the 48V mild-hybrid system providing extra power in short bursts, for an overboost function raising the torque up to 600 Nm for 12 seconds. With a proper plug-in hybrid system, we expect to see significant power gains on the updated C63.
The same switch will also happen for the Mercedes-AMG GLC facelift down the line, Autocar reports.
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Talks about the C63 ditching its inline-four mill has been swirling for quite some time now. Earlier rumours from 2023 suggested that the V8 could be indeed making a return to the model, although that has later been categorically shot down by AMG CEO Michael Schiebe.
Fitting a V8 into the engine bay of the new W206 C-Class – which has been designed for four- and six-cylinder engines – would have necessitated structural changes to the model, which would then require fresh round of crash testing and regulatory approval, and that wouldn’t be a viable endeavour at this stage of the model cycle, a source told Autocar.
Could the inline-six be enough to win back enthusiasts’ votes, and finally bring the fight back to the BMW M3 Competition?
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