Mercedes-AMG Might Put the V8 Back in Its Most Popular Sedans: Report

Put me in front of a BMW M3 and a Mercedes-AMG C 63, and I'll most likely go home with the Bimmer. But that's what I'd do today. The turbocharged S58 six-cylinder is a masterpiece and a reliability champion. That powerplant can leave anyone wondering about its unexpectedly generous power reserve at high speeds.

Had you asked me the same question in 2009, the answer would have been totally different. The W204 was an untamed animal back then. The sheer brutality of that drivetrain and the growl of the exhaust system were magical. The limited-edition C 63 AMG Black Series only amplified that sensorial driving experience.

However, someone (mainly the European Union) hurt Mercedes-AMG along the way. Intense human activity all over the globe (not just driving cars with big engines) is warming our planet up. If we don't want to face catastrophic climate change (something already unfolding in some parts of the world), we must act and lower our burden on the environment.

Admittedly, it would have been great if this effort started with winding down private jet use. That would've been great for the average Joe and Jane, who could have had something to relate to when they were invited to lower their carbon footprint. But rarely has something like that happened, primarily since humans are known to complain about equality feeling like oppression when they've been accustomed to privilege for some time.

No first mover advantage

But Mercedes-Benz wanted to make things right and took it upon itself to lower its fleet emissions. It introduced EVs, and shocked gearheads when it publicly confirmed that the best C-Class would no longer feature a V8 engine. The six-cylinder was also gone. But with 671 hp available, you would be inclined to say, "Well, that's more than enough for some occasional hooning around." After all, we're talking about a sports car that can do zero to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds (when the battery is up to the challenge), not a track weapon.

Besides that, the W206 2023 C 63 S E is a plug-in hybrid, so it can easily double as your commuting appliance. Given its ability to travel a whopping eight miles (13 kilometers) on electricity alone, the sedan can also absolve the owner from paying various fees and tolls in cities with low-emission zones.

But is that what you want when you're asked to spend around $90,000 (or more) on something that should be a well-off enthusiast's dream? Probably no. And the German automaker might have finally figured out the same thing.

What's even weirder is that the hardcore plug-in hybrid sedan isn't even priced in the US yet. In Germany, its cost starts from €114,888 ($126,681) at the time of writing.

At the time of writing, we have only three versions of the new C-Class available in the US – the C 300 Sedan, the C 300 4Matic Sedan, and the AMG C 43 Sedan. All hide a gas-powered two-liter four-cylinder powerplant under the hood.

Our northern neighbors have it even worse – they only get two versions of the new C-Class. It's either the C 300 4Matic or the AMG C 43.

Maybe the reason for the C 63 S E's absence from North America is that it will be revised very soon. Yes, Mercedes-Benz is getting ready to put a V8 mechanical beating heart back into the C 63 and the E 63. For the latter, rumors said it would be launched with a hybridized inline six-cylinder under the hood.

Double the cylinders, double the fun?

However, since it seems that the official introduction is being delayed, we suspect the German marque might be in the midst of figuring out how to add the V8 to C-Class' bigger brother first. It could confirm the eight-cylinder engine's return after the E 63 gets it.

Two sources cited by Car and Driver said that Mercedes-Benz would put the V8 back into the two sedans by adopting the same solution found on the 831-hp GT 63 S E Performance. The senior engineers confirmed that the C 63 and the E 63 require only minor adjustments to make room for the larger and hybridized powerplant. But it's possible that AMG's new E 63 will be more powerful than the C 63.

It's not yet clear when the official announcement will be made, but it certainly looks like a sure thing – the V8 is coming back. That's a great decision, considering BMW has found a way to enhance the output of its models with an eight-cylinder under the hood without crossing the emission limits set by the European Union.

If Mercedes-Benz follows this decision and keeps the V8 alive by electrifying the entire drivetrain for its two sedans, then Audi will have a problem. The Ingolstadt-based brand is moving forward with a hybridized V6 for its new RS 5 and RS 7. It'll be the only important German automaker with fast cars missing two cylinders.

Finally, the two-liter four-banger is excellent for a hatchback like the Mercedes-AMG A45 S 4Matic+. It should not have seen itself introduced under the hood of a C-Class or E-Class. The automaker would have been better off just moving straight to EVs. It could have challenged Tesla by bringing real luxury into the segment, and it would've won everyone over. Now, it has to cave in, admit that it was unwise to remove it in the first place, and somehow convince everyone that the V8's return was its plan all along.