Fresh details of four-pot Mercedes-AMG C 63e surface

The incoming 2022 Mercedes-AMG C 63e is set to be a technological tour de force when it arrives, harnessing the power of the German car-maker's next-gen 'P3' plug-in hybrid system.

According to Autocar, the headline news is the Mercedes-AMG C 63 will come equipped with an evolution of the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder that's used in the current Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+ hot hatch, but with the addition of a 48-volt integrated starter motor packaged within the nine-speed AMG Speedshift MCT transmission.

A second electric motor, meanwhile, will drive the rear axle, while a battery mounted under the boot floor will provide zero-emissions, pure-electric running.

Total power and torque are set to surpass the 375kW and 700Nm the current twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 musters, with the C63e's 2.0-litre benefiting from an electric compressor (or turbocharger) that raises power further.

This is claimed to be directly inspired by similar e-boost tech used in the 1.6-litre V6 engine in this year's Mercedes-AMG F1 car.

Unconfirmed reports suggest the next C 63e will come with an incredible 400kW and 800Nm of torque, figures that will dwarf all its rivals.

Even with a weight penalty of around 250kg over the outgoing V8, the new plug-in hybrid C 63e is on track to offer a 0-100km/h time of less than 3.5 seconds and a top speed of more than 300km/h.

According to Autocar, the C 63e's hybrid tech is far more efficient than its rivals as the integrated starter works at F1 levels of efficiency, acting as a generator and providing energy recuperation as well as a coasting feature when you lift off the throttle.

Like the upcoming 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT 73e 4MATIC+, which is set to offer a 600kW V8 plug-in hybrid powertrain being developed alongside the C 63e, owners will benefit from batteries that can support 400-volt recharging for 100kW fast-charging.