2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE 63 set for V8 power

After vehemently defending its decision to downsize its flagship ‘63’ powertrains from V8 to four-cylinder hybrid hardware, Mercedes-Benz has reportedly yielded to customer and dealer pressure and will release its upcoming Mercedes-AMG CLE 63 coupe (and cabriolet) with the German brand’s hairy-chested M177 twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8.

The intel comes courtesy of the UK’s Autocar website via anonymous Mercedes-Benz insiders who claim the shock backflip is in response to dealer concerns that customers may be confused about why the flagship CLE 63 has a smaller engine than the lesser CLE 53, which was revealed in December with a 3.0-litre turbo-petrol straight-six.

A similar issue will likely befall the eventual Mercedes-AMG E-Class portfolio, given as the E 53 sports a plug-in hybrid version of the above straight-six that offers V8-like levels of power and torque.

The fact that four-cylinder C 63 and GLC 63 sales are down considerably on their V8 predecessors globally has reportedly had no impact on the decision, but the British publication says it has it on good authority that the days of AMG’s four-cylinder PHEV powertrain could be numbered.

“We will stay close to the feedback of people and customers, and then we will go from that,” Mercedes-Benz R&D boss Markus Schafer told Autocar.

There’s no denying the effectiveness of AMG’s electrified four-cylinder powertrain, which in the C 63 S E Performance is good for 500kW/1020Nm – far more power and torque than any of its predecessors – but it lacks a V8 war cry and is hamstrung in terms of outright performance by its considerable heft.

And it seems customers are having a hard time getting their heads around the ethos behind the seismic shift away from the brutish V8s that have been an AMG hallmark for decades, in favour of the technology- and emissions-focussed electrified system with half the number of cylinders.

Schafer said customers would be the ultimate deciding factor in whether AMG perseveres with downsized electrified powertrains, or if it caves in entirely and returns to what it’s known for in the volume-selling mid-size segment.

“We decided for the C-Class to go with the four-cylinder and a strong electrical side,” he said.

“We decided for the GT and the S-Class to go with the eight-cylinder with the same electric side. We have to see what the customer ultimately decides.”

Global reveal dates for the flagship CLE and next E 63 are yet to be announced, but odds are the former will be unveiled in the coming months, followed by the debut of the next-gen super sedan later this year.

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