Mercedes-AMG isn’t kidding around, it seems. Barely a month after we broke the story that the company was planning to slot the A 45’s four-cylinder engine into its larger rear-wheel drive models, more information has surfaced regarding this rather ambitious plan – and it turns out Affalterbach is going so far as to use it to replace its trademark rumbly V8s.
The news comes from the pages of Autocar, which reported that the next-generation C 63, set to go on sale in 2022, will be the first to adopt a hybrid version of its M139 2.0 litre turbocharged four-pot mill. This engine, which already sees service in the latest A 45 and CLA 45, currently produces up to 421 PS and a thumping 500 Nm of torque in “S” tune.
That’s some way down on the 510 PS and 700 Nm produced by the outgoing 4.0 litre twin-turbo V8, but the addition of an 48-volt mild hybrid system with an integrated starter-generator – a more powerful version of the 22 PS/250 Nm unit in the mid-range 53 models – is expected to boost outputs to match the power output and boast even more torque. This, despite the engine possessing half the swept volume and cylinder count.
To support the extra performance, the C 63 is set to get a lithium-ion battery that’s larger than the 0.9 kWh unit in the 53 models, along with better kinetic energy recuperation that can harvest power from each wheel. Even with all this – and the fitment of the E 63‘s variable all-wheel drive system – the new car’s weight distribution is expected to be less nose-heavy, given that the four-pot itself weighs 48.5 kg less than the V8.
It’s not just that – the weight of the powertrain is said to be concentrated lower, allowing for a lower centre of gravity that should make for greater agility and body control. Doubtless purists won’t be happy with all this talk of electrification and the death knell of the iconic eight-cylinder engine, but what do you think of this move? Sound off in the comments after the jump.
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That’s the only way forward for Europe . And population earth.
Naa, the v8 is not going anywhere
Hence why MB is hard at work to produce more EVs to reduce its fleet c02 emission
At least for the next generation I think they will stick to the V8. I would have thought the hybrid 4 would be going into the C43 instead of the 63.
oh my gosh… no… please… not a 4 cyl with the 63 marque, EVER.
If AMG ditched the big V8, half the fun of the C63 is gone. If the M3 is the razor sharp track weapon, where lap times matter, but is a tad bit clinical. Then, the C63 is the total opposite: loud, brutishly fast, not as sharp, but still lots of fun.
NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sad but then again dont really care. small engine is useful for malaysia (i pay my road tax fully unlike most of these v8 drivers in malaysia)
Ideally they would go with the new I6, but this is such an obvious thing and they didn’t do it, so there must be a good reason why
So, what happens to the glorious, smooth V12?
A remnant exclusively for Maybac?
As long as it’s more fun to drive. Able to do faster laps & higher top speed. It will be more affordable for malaysians with a lower roadtax tho