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The short-lived four-cylinder C63 and GLC63 plug-in hybrid era is set to reach an early end, as executives have reportedly admitted the cars "failed to resonate" with customers.
Mercedes-AMG is set to "phase out" the controversial four-cylinder plug-in hybrid drivetrains in its latest C63 and GLC63, top executives have reportedly confirmed, in favour of hybridised inline six-cylinder and V8 engines.
An unnamed executive at the German car giant reportedly admitted to Autocar that customers have not understood the four-cylinder hybrids, and that the engine will prove too expensive to upgrade to meet upcoming Euro 7 emissions rules.
"Technically, the four-cylinder is one of the most advanced drivetrains available in a production car. It’s also right up there on performance," an unnamed Mercedes source told the UK outlet at the reveal of the AMG GT XX electric-car concept.
"But despite this, it failed to resonate with our traditional customers. We’ve recognised that."
Timing for the switch is yet to be confirmed, but it is implied it will occur with next-generation models – or the roll-out of Euro 7 rules later this decade – rather than in the immediate future.
"There’s no doubt about its potential – this is one of the most sophisticated engines we’ve ever built – but the investment to make it EU7-compliant is very high," Autocar's source was quoted as saying.
Mercedes-AMG stirred up controversy when its latest-generation C63 and GLC63 performance cars switched from a twin-turbo V8 to a plug-in hybrid powertrain based around a turbo four-cylinder.
While other brands, including BMW and Audi, have downsized from V8s to six-cylinder engines in the M3 and RS4, Mercedes was the only brand to effectively halve the engine size and cylinder count of its top-tier performance model.
Autocar's report suggests Mercedes-Benz executives have seen the effects of the perception problem caused by the switch, with a vow to return to six- and eight-cylinder power for AMG models with a longitudinal engine.
At the reveal of the GT XX – intended to signal AMG's foray into bespoke electric cars – Mercedes-Benz CTO Markus Schäfer reaffirmed that the performance division will pursue both electric and petrol models.
“AMG will continue with a dual strategy – two pillars. The electric pillar will grow significantly. But the second pillar – hybridised internal-combustion engines – will also remain,” he said.
“AMG and Mercedes are working together on a brand-new V8 engine. That engine will support upcoming emissions regulations.
“There will still be six- and eight-cylinder units, all electrified with either 48V [mild-hybrid] systems or full hybrid set-ups.”
Future AMG models are reportedly set to offer either a development of the current 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbocharged engine as used in cars like the CLE53 and E53, or a newly-developed V8.
Four-cylinder engines will remain in use for models like the new CLA sedan and GLA and GLB SUVs, due to packaging constraints of their transverse engine and front-wheel-drive-derived underpinnings, but not in high-performance forms.
Instead, the successor to today's AMG CLA45 performance sedan – which uses the hand-built 2.0-litre engine – is expected to be succeeded by a high-performance electric car, while the A45 hot hatch will not be replaced.
The 2.0-litre engine is also used in the SL43 roadster revealed in October 2021, but it could move to a six-cylinder in future, or a detuned version of the 4.0-litre V8 fitted to the SL55 and SL63.
In September 2022, Mercedes-Benz revealed the C63 S E Performance, with a four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain, replacing the previous V8 model, and joining the four-cylinder mild-hybrid C43, which replaced a six-cylinder model.
Despite a 500kW maximum system output, well above that of its 375kW V8 predecessor, the new model has failed to match the V8’s sales success globally.
Because of their close engineering ties, the GLC SUV range matched the C-Class line-up, however, despite sharing a similar structure underneath its bodywork, the CLE coupe range was revealed in July 2023 with six-cylinder engines in both AMG and non-AMG variants of the car.
A range-topping CLE63 has not yet been released, but it is tipped to retain V8 power rather than adopting the plug-in hybrid powertrain of the C63, or a variation of the CLE53’s six-cylinder engine.
The change would also see 43-badged models, like the SL43 and C43, make the move to six-cylinder engines.
Timing for the switch back to V8 performance has not yet been confirmed, but Autocar suggests that the cost of emissions compliance for the current four-cylinder hybrid range could see it continue to be offered in existing models for some time yet.
Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
