Even though today’s Mercedes-AMG C 63 and GLC 63 are the most powerful versions ever made (680 hp), the recipe of a turbocharged in-line four-cylinder (M 139L) paired with an electric motor on the rear axle has not landed with buyers. In practice, it looks as though customers still preferred the previous generation’s V8.
An Affalterbach executive effectively conceded the point to Autocar during the unveiling of the Mercedes-AMG Concept GT XX: “Technically, the four-cylinder is one of the most advanced powertrains ever fitted to a production car. The performance is top-tier. But despite that, it failed to win over our traditional customers. We recognise that.”
Why the Mercedes-AMG four-cylinder hybrid failed to win buyers
The “traditional customers” AMG is referring to have criticised the hybrid set-up for lacking character, and they have also pointed to the car’s hefty kerb weight - the C 63 comes in at 2165 kg. For those enthusiasts, there is a clear piece of good news: the four-cylinder is on its way out. Just not immediately.
Euro 7: timing and the cost of keeping the M 139 alive
The same executive would not say exactly when the change will happen, but all signs suggest it will line up with the arrival of the Euro 7 emissions standard on 29 November 2026. According to him, the expense of updating the M 139 to meet the new requirements is simply too high.
That decision would not only affect the C 63 and GLC 63, but also the GT 43 and SL 43 and, of course, the 45-badged models lower down the German brand’s line-up, such as the A-Class and CLA.
Future with more cylinders
It is not yet clear whether AMG will ever return to four-cylinder engines, but for the next few years the plan appears to rest on two pillars: electric models and electrified combustion engines… with more cylinders.
On the electric side, the Concept GT XX gives a strong indication of what to expect from future high-performance EVs from the brand: axial-flux motors - smaller and lighter, yet more powerful - alongside extremely high charging capability (850 kW).
For combustion engines, Markus Schäfer, Mercedes-Benz’s chief technical officer, has confirmed that the straight-six and V8 units will continue, “all electrified, with mild-hybrid (48 V) or (plug-in) hybrid systems”.
The biggest surprise seems reserved for the V8. AMG is developing a new generation featuring a flat-plane crankshaft (à la Ferrari) and engineered from the outset to comply with Euro 7.
What is the future of the Mercedes-AMG C 63?
Despite all this movement, the C 63’s future is still unclear. Dropping the four-cylinder does not automatically mean the model will receive a V8 or straight-six replacement.
There are rumours that both the C 63 and the C 43 - currently four-cylinder cars - could be replaced by a new C 53, using the straight-six (M 256M) already found in models such as the E 53.
However, there is an important packaging point to consider: when the current C-Class (W 206) was unveiled in 2021, Mercedes made it clear that only four-cylinder engines “fit” in the engine bay. The straight-six is simply too long.
Paradoxically, the V8 could be easier to accommodate because it is shorter than the straight-six - so who knows, perhaps the V8 does come back?
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