Mercedes-AMG C 63 facelift to ditch four-pot for IL6

The concept was right – out with the thirsty V8, and install a compact plug-in hybrid four-pot instead for the AMG C 63. Only the punters weren’t having a bar of it, the four-pot C 63 selling well below expectations. So management has seen fit to swap out the electrified IL4T for a new six-pot PHEV powertrain. It will debut in the facelifted C 63 due out next year. 

The four-cylinder plug-in hybrid system kicked off in 2022. The C 63’s bellowing V8 made way for an electrically turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine and rear-mounted electric motor. Together they developed 500kW and 1020Nm of torque. That was sufficient for a new C 63 0-100km/h record, a blistering 3.18sec in our hands. And the 80-120 overtake was comfortably inside of 2.0sec, considered supercar fast.

Despite all that, sales of the AMG C 63 have lagged well behind budget globally, forcing a rethink of its Formula 1-inspired drivetrain.

So the 375kW/545Nm four-pot is making way for a new plug-in hybrid drivetrain featuring a 3.0-litre straight six-cylinder engine.

A similar set-up already powers current AMG 53 models, though the C 63 implementation will have more power and torque.

It will also feature in the facelifted GLC 63, due out in 2027, according to Autocar UK.

V8 power will make a comeback too. The next CLE 63 will have a flat-plane-crank version of AMG’s 4.0L TT V8.

Engineers in the C-Class programme say packaging issues made the adoption of the new AMG V8 unfeasible for the C 63.

Instead, the facelifted C 63 will use a re-engineered version of AMG’s ‘M256’ 3.0-litre turbo straight six. It’s expected to deliver 485kW in combination with an electric motor. Torque will likely top 880Nm. Both figures are below those of the current C 63, however. 

The C 63’s new PHEV drivetrain will also drop the rear-axle electric motor and slot it between the engine and gearbox. 

With this new set-up, AMG hopes to balance performance targets with a smoother, more characterful delivery, akin to that of the former V8-powered C 63. 

Moreover, the C 63 will then be on much the same mechanical path as the BMW M3. That has had six-pot power for over two decades.

The facelifted C 63 will also adopt the new Superscreen dashboard display and MB:OS operating system.