Mercedes-AMG C63 poised for V8 return – report

A V8 powerplant could return to the Mercedes-AMG C63 as soon as next year, with the German brand committing to eight- and twelve-cylinder engines for the foreseeable future.

The German car maker – while reporting its 2024 financial results – announced a ‘next-generation high-tech V8’ while confirming the even more niche V12 has also had a stay of execution for its flagship models.

Autocar is also reporting an updated version of the ubiquitous 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that powered the last-generation C-Class flagship will debut in the CLE later this year, before making its way to the C63 sedan next year.

And, while several brands will also continue to offer a V8 – including United States (US) giant Ford with its Mustang – the V12 news means Mercedes-Benz will remain the only car maker in the world to offer such a petrol engine.

Its twin-turbo 6.0-litre unit is available in the S-Class sedan – which has a significant model upgrade coming in 2026 – as well as upper-premium Mercedes-Maybach models and the Pagani Utopia hypercar.

The confirmation also comes only days after BMW said its V8 engine is here to stay for the foreseeable future – it too electrified – alongside other petrol-powered and battery-electric cars in its future line-up.

BMW has also previously confirmed it will offer both a twin-turbo inline six-cylinder version of the next-generation M3 due in 2026 as well as a battery-electric alternative.

For Mercedes-Benz, the future-proofed 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 will see service in the 2026 CLE63 coupe, accompanied by hybrid technology which arrived in the 2024 AMG GT 63 S E Performance sports car line-up.

The stay of execution follows the dumping of the V8 from the Mercedes-AMG C63 sedan and the GLC63 SUV – replaced by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid – which has seen sales slump.

The new V8 could also see service in the next E63 AMG sedan and wagon, but if it arrives on the updated C63, it would fly in the face of the car maker's previous statement ruling out a return of a V8-powered C63 sedan.

After heavy sales declines in 2024 including in Australia, Mercedes-Benz will introduce more than two-dozen new or significantly upgraded new models – with 19 of those using internal combustion power of some sort – between now and 2027.

It predicts 70 per cent of sales in 2027 will remain internal combustion models with the remaining 30 per cent made up of plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles.

All models – electric, hybrid or otherwise – will have a consistent design, the maker said, having copped criticism for the blandness of some of its electric cars, which sacrificed superficial looks for range-extending aerodynamic benefits. 

Mercedes-Benz revised down its previous electric car targets in early 2024 – like so many other car makers – after planning to sell only electric cars in most countries from 2030.

A platform codenamed ‘EA.AMG’ being developed in-house by Mercedes-AMG – the high-performance arm of the company – now appears to be compatible with both battery-electric, hybrid and internal combustion powertrains.

It gives the car maker flexibility across different customer demands – as well as regulations – around the world, Mercedes-Benz saying the V12 and V8 will be offered in ‘selected markets’, eerily similar language used by BMW when it confirmed its V8 future.

While it dropped its last V12 from the 7 Series sedan in 2022, BMW Australia introduced its first hybrid V8 the same year with the BMW XM SUV, with a more potent version of the same hybrid powertrain found in the 2025 BMW M5 launched here earlier this month.

Audi dropped its 12-cylinder – in a less common ‘W12’ engine layout as opposed to a vee – globally with the current-generation Audi A8.

Its last V10 in Australia was the 2021 model year Audi R8 sports car.

While the European Union will outlaw the sale of new vehicles with internal combustion engines from 2035, the United Kingdom – which sees around 2 million new vehicles sold annually – is scheduled to enforce its ban in 2030.