Mercedes-AMG CLE 63 To Use V8 Because No One Wants A Four-Pot

The four-cylinder hybrid powertrain in the new Mercedes-AMG C63 and GLC 63 is an undoubtedly mighty feat of engineering, pumping out a combined 670bhp in top S guise, but it’s not convinced too many people that it’s a suitable replacement for the roaring V8s that were AMG’s bread and butter for so many years.

Now, amid sluggish sales for both four-cylinder hybrids, it seems that AMG is sitting up and taking note: sources at the company have reportedly told Autocar that the upcoming range-topping 63 version of the CLE will pack the company’s 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, in 585bhp form.

It’s seemingly confirmation of a rumour that had been floating around for some time given the poor reception of the C63 and GLC 63’s four-cylinder powertrain, which the CLE 63 was originally slated to receive. Instead, when it arrives later this year, it’ll feature the V8 that powered the old shape C63, and is still fitted to AMG models including the GT, G63 and SL63.

The 585bhp version of the engine that the CLE 63 is set to use features mild-hybrid tech in the form of an electric starter-generator, but that’s likely to be the extent of the new car’s electrification.

In addition to the four-pot’s inherent lack of emotional appeal, part of the apparent motive for this move back to V8 power stems from customer confusion that the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder 63 models sit above the 3.0-litre, six-cylinder 53 models in the C-Class and GLC’s model hierarchy.

Speaking to Autocar at the Beijing Auto Show in April, Mercedes’ head of R&D, Markus Schäfer, also said the company was closely monitoring sales of the C63 and GLC 63, and that it would be “up to customers to decide” whether they made the switch back to V8 power too.