Mercedes threw a four-cylinder engine at the C63 a while back, ending the iconic V8’s long run in the car and effectively tanking its appeal for enthusiasts. A lot of words have been written about the car in the time since, and the automaker appears to have listened, though it’s not making the exact changes many had hoped. The next C63 may get a bigger engine, but it’s not likely to be a V8.
A Mercedes board member told Auto Express that, “We will have some options where we had a four-cylinder, which will also be available as a six-cylinder going forward. There may or may not be a hybrid, it might be pure ICE, maybe. We’ll let you know when we are there.”
The current four-cylinder engine has loads of tech, including a trick electric turbocharger, plug-in hybrid tech, and other goodies, but even with its prodigious power and speed, it could never match the V8’s ferocity, engagement, and sound. A mild-hybrid inline-six or a similar engine could help with some of that, but the V8 noises will still be absent.
Of course, Mercedes may change course entirely and ditch the C63 name in favor of a tamer C53, which would align with the six-cylinder powertrain. Hybrid power is also almost a given, with tightening Euro emissions regulations driving the ship for many automakers. Whatever the change, we won’t have long to wait, as the next C63 update is expected to arrive in mid-2026.
[Images: Mercedes-Benz]
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