The four-cylinder C63 is dead, but the small engine will continue to be found in entry-level AMGs.
The C63 saga is officially over, as Mercedes-AMG is ending production of its flagship C-Class sedan. While a direct replacement isn’t yet planned, Affalterbach plans to launch a lukewarm C53 with two extra cylinders, but still two less than the previous-generation C63. Company officials say the decision comes down to meeting Euro 7 regulations, which the electric four-pot is surprisingly unable to meet.
While sluggish sales clearly didn’t directly contribute to the C63’s imminent demise, Mercedes-AMG admits it overestimated customer willingness to embrace a four-cylinder engine. Interviewed by a German magazine Automobiles and SportsOutgoing CEO Michael Schiebe admitted that the forecast was too optimistic:
“Previous decisions were made under different circumstances and we also assumed there would be greater acceptance. This situation has changed significantly in key markets, including the United States.
This isn’t the first time AMG’s boss has made such a candid statement. More than a year ago, he told car magazine “There’s no doubt we’ve also lost some customers who were new to V8s.” Later this year, he admitted that Mercedes’ performance division should “better explain” the technology behind the electric four-cylinder powertrain.
Effective July 1, former Porsche Taycan boss Stefan Weckbach will succeed Michael Schiebe at the helm of AMG. The outgoing CEO will remain on the Management Board, overseeing production, quality and supply chain management.
Although the C63 equipped with the 2.0-liter engine is disappearing, the “M139” engine continues to be used in the non-US version of the A45. Schiebe said the hot hatch will be around for “quite a while” following the decision to extend the A-Class’s life cycle by a few more years. Starting in the second quarter of this year, the brand’s entry-level cars will be produced from the Rastatt plant in Germany to the Kecskemét plant in Hungary, where Mercedes plans to assemble vehicles by 2028.
Meanwhile, the portrait-mounted “M139l” version may also be dropped from the GLC 63. Logic suggests Mercedes-AMG is planning a GLC 53 with the same inline-six engine as the C53. The identity of the 3.0-liter engine has been revealed: “M256M”. For context, the current output of the CLE 53 Coupe and Cabriolet is 443 horsepower.
Motor1’s point of view: The early retirement of the C63 shows that numbers aren’t everything. Although the plug-in hybrid is far more powerful than its V8 predecessor, fans are missing out on the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter engine’s performance.
Engineers may claim to have products with alternative displacements, but ultimately, it’s customers with their wallets who decide whether they want a large internal combustion engine or a super-complex small engine with hybrid assistance.
The upcoming V8 being developed by AMG should lure buyers back to showrooms. However, an eight-cylinder C-Class doesn’t appear to be in development just yet. Instead, the new engine is reserved for larger models, including the hardcore CLE.
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Wrong end: Four-cylinder Mercedes C63 allegedly scrapped
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Mercedes-AMG C63 could get a bigger engine
Source: Auto & Sports