Mercedes-AMG will return to V8 power, confirming an all-new mild-hybrid petrol engine will debut in the upcoming Mercedes-AMG CLE 63 later this year.
The move marks a shift away from the controversial petrol-electric four-cylinder plug-in hybrid drivetrain introduced in the current C63, which failed to gain traction with customers, leading to a significant drop in sales for one of AMG’s previous best-selling models.
Sources within the brand have told Autocar that following the CLE 63, the powerplant will then be rolled out to other models, including a revised C63 due in 2026.
While the V8’s previously mooted return has been confirmed, it comes with a significant engineering change: AMG has abandoned the traditional cross-plane crankshaft in favour of a flat-plane design.
Full details of the new AMG engine remain under wraps, though it is rumoured to lean heavily on the Mercedes-Benz performance car division’s existing twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 architecture.
The key difference is the move from a cross-plane to a flat-plane crankshaft – a change that promises to improve throttle response but sacrifice the deep, burbling soundtrack traditionally associated with AMG’s V8s.
This layout, first adopted by AMG on the GT Black Series’ M178 LS2 engine in 2021, also enables a more compact crankcase design, allowing AMG to package the new engine into models that were not originally engineered for a V8, including the existing fifth-generation C-Class. It also provides the scope for a higher redline and ignition cut-out.
In its ultimate form, the new V8 is also said to receive a mild-hybrid system with an integrated starter motor within the gearbox for added power boosting and greater efficiency.
The current C63 S E Performance’s electronically turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder drivetrain produces 671bhp and 752lb ft of torque in combination with a rear-mounted electric motor and 6.1kWh lithium-ion battery. Despite its impressive figures, the shift from a traditional V8 to a four-cylinder engine was widely criticised, particularly for the lack of acoustic character.
By comparison, the previous-generation C63 S, equipped with AMG’s cross-plane twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 in M177 specification, delivered 503bhp and 516lb ft of torque – less outright power, but it arguably proved a far more engaging experience.
To compensate for the higher-pitched, more aggressive sound of the flat-plane crank engine, AMG plans to provide future models with an artificial sound generator to simulate the burbling soundtrack of its most celebrated models.
Beyond the new V8, AMG is also set to introduce greater design differentiation between its lower-end and top-of-the-line models within each market segment. Mercedes-AMG chairman Michael Schiebe has laid out aggressive growth ambitions, targeting an increase in annual sales from 140,000 to 200,000 units.
