The German marque has confirmed that it is working on a new fully electric powertrain for the Mercedes-AMG C63 update, following a disappointing introduction of the hybrid-based model…
As the C-Class facelift’s global release date gets closer, fans of the brand have questions about the direction for the flagship AMG model. Chief technical officer Jorg Burzer informed Australia’s The Drive that the next step for the Mercedes-AMG C63 is to incorperate a fully electric drivetrain alongside an offering with a conventional internal combustion engine. Burzer refused to disclose whether the V8 would be returning to the badge, but he hints that the C63’s future will be exciting.
The Mercedes-AMG C63’s hybrid missed the mark
The Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance replaced the traditional V8 engines with an advanced, race-derived plug-in hybrid powertrain. Up front sits the M139L 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine featuring an electrically assisted turbocharger, which works with a rear-mounted electric motor and a 6.1 kWh high-performance battery. Combined, the system produces 500 kW and 1,020 N.m of torque, sending power to all four wheels via the AMG Performance 4Matic+ system and a nine-speed MCT transmission. This complex setup enables the sports sedan to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds. However, the inclusion of the electric motor, battery pack, and all-wheel-drive hardware pushes the kerb weight to over 2.1 tonnes, significantly affecting overall agility.
Despite its exceptional technical performance, the model faced severe backlash from enthusiasts and purists, leading directly to poor global sales and its planned production end. Buyers rejected the synthetic engine note and complex plug-in hybrid system, preferring the visceral sound, simplicity, and linear power delivery of its V8 predecessors and six-cylinder rivals. The high curb weight compromised track dynamics, whilst the small battery provided minimal pure-electric driving range. Facing low demand, Mercedes-AMG issued internal notices marking the end of production for the C63 S E Performance, effectively halting the four-cylinder hybrid experiment as the brand re-evaluates multi-cylinder powertrain options for future iterations.
The exclusive CLE 646 fixes AMG’s powertrain error
The Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung is an exclusive track-focused performance coupé, based on the C-Class’s platform. The special model departs from the C63’s plug-in hybrid setup, incorperating a flat-plane crankshaft M177 Evo 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 475 kW and 850 N.m of torque directly to the rear wheels via an AMG Speedshift TCT nine-speed transmission.
Extensive carbon fibre construction, rear seat deletion, and structural shedding lower the kerb weight by approximately 170 kg compared to standard models, enabling a 0 to 100 km/h sprint in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 314 km/h. It features a manually adjustable front diffuser, widened wings with functional louvres, KW coilover suspension, carbon ceramic brakes, and a bespoke titanium Akrapovič exhaust system. Limited to a strictly capped production run of just 30 units globally, the model commands an estimated price tag around €1,000,000 (approximately R20 million). Australian media asked if this engine could be a possibility for the next C63, but Burzer responded by saying, “I don’t know… I don’t know what these guys are doing at AMG.”
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