Reports that the Mercedes-AMG C63 and E63 would get a V8 engine with two turbochargers were vastly overstated. Even though the idea that both models will have V8 power again by 2026 caused a lot of excitement, Mercedes-AMG CEO Michael Schiele has officially shot it down. During an interview with The Drive at Monterey Car Week, Schiele said that Mercedes-AMG would not put V8 engines back into its high-performance C-Class and E-Class cars. So, the C63 will keep its four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain, which has been attacked for being too heavy and complicated, while the future E63 will have an electric inline-six system. Schiele says that AMG thinks it made the right decision with both cars, given how the market is going. I try not to talk about names that compete with each other, but there are a lot more performance hybrids on the market right now. He said that they were already known. So, we made the right choice to go that way. True, but the new BMW M5, a straight competitor, plans to keep its V8 engine for one more round before switching to hybrid power. All reports point to the car using the same 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 as the BMW XM crossover. The 2024 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance is also no slouch. It has a 2.0-liter M139 four-cylinder engine, an electric turbo system inspired by F1, and a rear-axle electric motor that makes 671 horsepower and 752 pound-feet of torque. Even though it’s called a “tiny rocket,” the new C63 can still go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. But it does this while being 4,654 pounds, or about 800 pounds, heavier than the V8-powered car it replaced. Handling has never been a strong point of a vehicle known more for being a German hot rod. With the extra weight, technology is being used more than ever to make up for it, and early responses have been mixed. Even though hybrids are becoming more popular, Schiele said that new AMG cars will still have internal combustion engines for at least the next few years. He said the company is “still improving the ICE cars,” so the new 2024 Mercedes-AMG GT coupe, SL roadster, and S63 sedan will all have V8 engines for as long as possible. He said that since Mercedes models usually come out every seven years, AMG V8s should be available at least until the end of the decade. This, on the other hand On the other hand, AMG’s electric strategy is going along quickly, and work is being done on an entirely new AMG. EA’s base for electric cars is well underway. In light of this, there is no doubt that the C63’s hybrid turbocharged four-cylinder engine is here to stay.
