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Mercedes-AMG's boss has confirmed the four-cylinder PHEV C63 S will be replaced by the mild-hybrid inline-six from the CLE53.
A reshuffle of the Mercedes-AMG C-Class performance sedan range has been confirmed, with the four-cylinder plug-in hybrid C63 S to be replaced by a mild-hybrid inline-six model.
Mercedes-AMG boss Michael Schiebe told US publication Edmunds a Mercedes-AMG C53 sedan will join the range, "taking the combustion engine from the CLE53".
"No [full] hybrid engine – pure inline six-cylinder," Schiebe said, meaning it won't feature the larger E53's six-cylinder plug-in hybrid system.
The executive claimed the four-cylinder plug-in hybrid system in the current C63 S – which replaced the old model's non-hybrid twin-turbo V8, and is also fitted to the AMG GLC63 S – does not meet the stricter Euro 7 emissions standard.
"Under the regulations of EU7, it's quite difficult to carry [the four-cylinder engine] into the future," he said. "That's why we will stop offering the M139, and in the mid-size segment, we will replace it with the inline six-cylinder."
The 3.0-litre turbocharged mild-hybrid inline-six in the Mercedes-AMG CLE53 develops 330kW and 560Nm for a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 4.0 seconds in the two-door coupe.
By comparison, the Mercedes-AMG C63 S E-Performance has a combined system output of 500kW and 1020Nm, with a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 3.4 seconds, from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder and a rear electric motor.
The development of new AMG C-Class and GLC models with larger engines was reportedly accelerated by a lack of customer demand for four-cylinder versions.
A facelift for the wider C-Class range, which dates back to 2021, is likely to coincide with the introduction of a new six-cylinder engine for the AMG model.
In November 2025, it was reported that production of the Mercedes-AMG C43, GLC43 and GLA35 will end in February 2026 due to stricter European noise regulations, while the C63 and GLC63 would follow in May.
Mercedes-Benz has not confirmed this report, which stemmed from a leaked memo, and the brand's local division said "at this stage there are no plans to discontinue the models… for the Australian market".
Similar to the rumoured new AMG C53, the BMW M3 features a non-hybrid 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline-six, while the new Audi RS5 – debuting this month – is rumoured to have an upgraded 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V6 matched with a plug-in hybrid system.
The Mercedes-AMG CLE is expected to add V8 power similar to its two-door C-Class predecessor, with the ultra-limited Mythos teased, reportedly featuring the brand's 4.0-litre V8 with a flat-plane crank.
It is currently unclear whether the CLE Mythos, which is likely to incur a high price tag, will be followed by a V8-powered, series-production CLE63 coupe and convertible.
Jordan is a motoring journalist based in Melbourne with a lifelong passion for cars. He has been surrounded by classic Fords and Holdens, brand-new cars, and everything in between from birth, with his parents’ owning an automotive workshop in regional Victoria. Jordan started writing about cars in 2021, and joined the Drive team in 2024.
