Last week, Mercedes revealed the bonkers AMG GT 4-Door EV, but all-electric power isn’t the only path the German brand is taking to performance. As reported by Motor Trend, AMG CEO Michael Schiebe has confirmed that a new V8 engine will arrive by the end of 2026, with Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius revealing it will be produced in three forms: “the Mercedes-Benz [version], the AMG [version], and the ‘go crazy’ AMG [version].” In other words, the 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged flat-plane crank V8 that appeared in the new S-Class is just the tip of the iceberg, with 530 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque the bare minimum.
AMG’s New V8 Will Debut in the CLE 63
SH Proshots/Autoblog
During the presentation of the abovementioned AMG GT 4-Door EV, Affalterbach confirmed that the new AMG V8 will make its first appearance in the CLE 63 coupe, which has been spied testing on a few occasions in both hardtop and convertible forms. Later, a limited edition as part of the recently introduced Mythos series will likely up the ante. Just 30 will be made, all of which are already spoken for, and this variant is rumored to produce up to 646 hp, or 116 ponies more than in the S 580. Although this CLE Mythos looks hardcore, it’s not necessarily the most powerful application of the M 177 EVO engine Mercedes has in mind, as the automaker has also teased a Black Series variant of the AMG GT super sports car. With electrification providing a helping hand, the powertrain could well exceed 800 hp or more, but we’ll have to be patient a little longer. The engine will also not be restricted to the S-Class and some high-performance coupes, as we know the upcoming drop-top G-Class will also feature a twin-turbo V8.
AMG Will Cut Engine Options Drastically
Mercedes-Benz
Schiebe also revealed that AMG will no longer produce 10 engine variants, scaling down to just four. There’s the V8, the straight-six expected to reach the C 63, and then we expect plug-in hybrid versions of these engines. However, the widely derided four-cylinder configuration is not necessarily dead at Mercedes, as the so-called ‘baby G’ will reportedly have a turbocharged four-pot, though this isn’t confirmed to be getting AMG treatment just yet.
Related: Mercedes Is Recalling Thousands of Sedans, Crossovers, Coupes, and Convertibles
By 2028, Mercedes intends to introduce three combustion and three all-electric entry-level models, eight ICE and four EV core models, plus 14 ICE and eight EVs at the top of the range. Clearly, Mercedes wants to appeal to as wide a demographic as possible, and giving American buyers choices is sure to help as the brand chases a target of 400,000 U.S. sales by 2030.
