Mercedes-AMG is bringing more V8 engines back to its lineup, but fans hoping for a V8-powered version of the current C63 will be disappointed. The performance division has committed to keeping V8s alive, yet Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that the current-generation C-Class will not receive a V8-powered C63.
The V8 Comeback Is Underway
AMG never completely abandoned V8-powered vehicles, but the number of available models with eight-cylinder engines has declined significantly as emission and noise regulations have tightened and Mercedes-Benz has accelerated its move toward electrification.
The shift became particularly controversial with models such as the C63 plug-in hybrid, which replaced the traditional V8 configuration with a four-cylinder powertrain. The latest electric AMGs also failed to generate the same enthusiasm among AMG’s biggest fans.
AMG has since promised to maintain its commitment to V8 engines, and the company is now making progress on that promise. However, that revival will not extend to the current C63.
Current C63 Won’t Get a V8
Klaus Rehkugler, Mercedes-Benz’s head of product management and global training, confirmed that there are no plans to bring a V8 back to the four-door C63.
Speaking to CarExpert, Rehkugler said the C63 remained popular in several markets, including North America, Australia, Japan, China and Korea. However, he explained that Mercedes-Benz does not believe a V8 version could recover its development costs during the remaining lifecycle of the current C-Class.
The current C-Class, known as the W206/S206, was not engineered to accommodate larger engines such as a V6, inline-six or V8. The platform was designed around a four-cylinder turbocharged engine, with mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid systems available depending on the configuration.
Why the C-Class Wasn’t Designed for Six Cylinders
Christian Früh, the chief engineer of the W206/S206, explained in a 2021 Automotive News Europe interview why the platform was not designed around a six-cylinder engine.
According to Früh, accommodating a larger engine would have required extending the front end by 50 millimeters. It would also have increased the axle load and affected the car’s driving dynamics.
Mercedes-Benz instead attempted to compensate for the difference in engine size through the additional performance provided by its plug-in hybrid systems.
The strategy ultimately led to the controversial four-cylinder C63, which has failed to satisfy many enthusiasts who expected the traditional AMG V8 formula.
A Future V8 C-Class Is Still Possible
There is some hope for AMG fans. Rehkugler did not rule out the possibility of a V8-powered C-Class returning with the next generation.
Mercedes-Benz plans to build V8 engines at least until 2035, according to Rehkugler, who also indicated that demand remains strong enough to support the engines for another decade.
Europe could make that increasingly difficult, however, as tighter emissions and noise regulations continue to put pressure on high-performance combustion engines.
The C-Class Is Getting More Cylinders Again
While the current C63 will not return to eight cylinders, the facelifted C-Class is expected to gain a new C53 model featuring Mercedes-AMG’s 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six from the GLC 53.
Official specifications have not yet been released, but the model is expected to produce 443 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. Its reveal is expected before the end of the year.
The return of an inline-six also carries historical significance for the AMG C-Class. The original C36 used a straight-six engine, making the upcoming C53 a return to an earlier AMG formula.
A V8 AMG Is Still Coming
For buyers who want an AMG C-Class with a V8, there is another option on the horizon. The CLE 63 Mythos is set to receive a V8 and is coming soon.
For AMG enthusiasts, the model could provide a more traditional alternative as Mercedes-Benz works to balance the continued demand for powerful combustion engines with increasingly strict regulations.
