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Mercedes has learned the hard way that buyers don't want four-cylinders in their AMGs, even if they do make more power than a V8. Since the debut of the 2.0 liter hybrid-assisted turbo-four in the latest C63 S and GLC 63, sales of the two performance models have dropped significantly, and instead the German automaker has earned nothing but scoffs and laughter from enthusiasts. That's because the new powertrain, despite managing to produce 671 hp as opposed to around 500 hp in the old V8, has been widely criticized for being heavier and less engaging to drive.
In order to ensure that future AMG models will sell, Mercedes has opted against putting the same four-cylinder engine under the hood of the CLE two-door, and instead the upcoming AMG CLE 63 will feature the much-loved 4.0 liter V8 with some mild hybrid tech added on. The powertrain will make 575 hp in total, and while that undercuts 671 hp by a significant margin, the more emotional driving experience and pleasant soundtrack will make it very much worthwhile.
In addition, AMG has already revealed the CLE 53 with a turbocharged six-cylinder good for 443 hp, and while that also undercuts the four-cylinder in terms of straight-line power, the automaker knew buyers wouldn't be willing to pay extra to lose two cylinders in the 63. Speaking of buyers, Mercedes R&D boss Markus Schäfer told Autocar that the company will pay more attention to the interests of their customers in the future, with sales will playing a much larger role in its decisions.
Now that it's figured out the rest of its AMG lineup, Mercedes has to consider what it's going to do with the current four-cylinder C63 and GLC 63. Sales won't surge upward on their own, which means the automaker will have to put that V8 back in their engine bays at some point. But when that happens, the company will have to endure some serious embarrassment.
Image Credits: Mercedes
Report
May 26, 2024
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Mercedes-AMG CLE 63 Getting V8 After Embarrassing Four-Cylinder Failure
The customer is always right, which means the V8 is the way forward.
Mercedes has learned the hard way that buyers don't want four-cylinders in their AMGs, even if they do make more power than a V8. Since the debut of the 2.0 liter hybrid-assisted turbo-four in the latest C63 S and GLC 63, sales of the two performance models have dropped significantly, and instead the German automaker has earned nothing but scoffs and laughter from enthusiasts. That's because the new powertrain, despite managing to produce 671 hp as opposed to around 500 hp in the old V8, has been widely criticized for being heavier and less engaging to drive.
In order to ensure that future AMG models will sell, Mercedes has opted against putting the same four-cylinder engine under the hood of the CLE two-door, and instead the upcoming AMG CLE 63 will feature the much-loved 4.0 liter V8 with some mild hybrid tech added on. The powertrain will make 575 hp in total, and while that undercuts 671 hp by a significant margin, the more emotional driving experience and pleasant soundtrack will make it very much worthwhile.
In addition, AMG has already revealed the CLE 53 with a turbocharged six-cylinder good for 443 hp, and while that also undercuts the four-cylinder in terms of straight-line power, the automaker knew buyers wouldn't be willing to pay extra to lose two cylinders in the 63. Speaking of buyers, Mercedes R&D boss Markus Schäfer told Autocar that the company will pay more attention to the interests of their customers in the future, with sales will playing a much larger role in its decisions.
Now that it's figured out the rest of its AMG lineup, Mercedes has to consider what it's going to do with the current four-cylinder C63 and GLC 63. Sales won't surge upward on their own, which means the automaker will have to put that V8 back in their engine bays at some point. But when that happens, the company will have to endure some serious embarrassment.
Image Credits: Mercedes
