V8 to Return to Mercedes-AMG C63

Not a fan of the latest 4-pot Mercedes-AMG C63? Well, a fresh report claims Affalterbach will switch back to V8 power in 2026. Here’s what we know so far…

For many, the W205-generation Mercedes-AMG C63’s defining feature was its twin-turbo V8 engine, so when the flagship version of the W206 iteration debuted in 2022 with an electrified 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder heart (and all-wheel drive), some fans were not amused. However, a new report claims Affalterbach plans to switch back to V8 power in 2026.

Yes, according to Georg Kacher writing for Car and Driver, the German firm’s twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine is currently being further developed to meet Europe’s latest emissions regulations. The M177 motor is, of course, still employed by the likes of the GT63 S E Performance and S63 S E Performance, though in plug-in hybrid guise.

*The M177 4.0-litre V8 has lived on in PHEV form in the likes of the Mercedes-AMG S63 S E Performance.*

The US publication claims 2 “independent sources” have confirmed the V8 is back on the table for the C63, with “senior engineers directly involved in the matter” having revealed only “minor” bodywork changes would be required for the hottest version of the compact executive sedan to accept the hybrid version of the hefty V8 powerplant.

Car and Driver furthermore suggests the upcoming Mercedes-AMG E63 – based on the freshly revealed W214 series E-Class – will be powered by an inline-6 plug-in hybrid arrangement. Though this model has yet to even make its debut, Kacher’s sources claim the apex E-Class will revert to V8 power in 2026 as well.

*The C63 would reportedly require only “minor” body modifications to accommodate the V8.*

As a reminder, the rear-driven W205-generation C63 S offered 375 kW and 700 Nm from its 8-cylinder engine. The all-paw W206-series C63 S E Performance, meanwhile, employs a 2-speed electric motor at the rear (along with a lithium-ion battery) and the brand’s M139L turbocharged 2.0-litre, 4-pot longitudinally mounted at the front, a set-up that delivers a combined total system output of 500 kW and 1 020 Nm.

The 0-100 kph sprint takes a claimed 3.4 seconds, while top speed is electronically limited to 280 kph. The new C63 S E Performance has yet to hit the market in South Africa, despite the fact it’s built alongside the C43 and other W206 models at Mercedes-Benz SA’s plant in the Eastern Cape.