Despite dropping half its cylinders, the C63 will be more powerful than ever.
We’ve known for years now Mercedes plans to drop the wonderful 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 found in the current AMG C63 for a hybrid four-cylinder power plant in 2022. Rumors began to appear back in 2019 before the company confirmed the switch in 2021. Now, we finally know how much power the new battery-assisted drivetrain will make: 660 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque.
U.K. publication Autocar confirmed the numbers with Mercedes during an event at the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring this past weekend where the German company showed a camouflaged prototype of the upcoming performance sedan. The 2.0-liter turbocharged M139 engine will make 463 hp on its own, the most of any variant so far in the AMG range. It’s aided by a 198-hp electric motor at the rear axle. The combined 660 horses mean this new car will have 167 more hp than the outgoing C63, despite losing half its cylinders. It’ll also be significantly more powerful than its closest rival, the BMW M3.
Power isn’t the only thing Autocar was able to extract from Mercedes reps at the event. The company also confirmed the new C63 will weigh less than the outgoing model, despite all of the new hybrid tech onboard. That’s thanks to the M139 itself, which weighs just 353 pounds—107 pounds less than the V-8.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the potent M139 engine used in an AMG with rear-drive architecture. Just last month Mercedes revealed the SL43, an entry-level version of its two-seat convertible that uses the same engine, albeit in a more conservative tune.
Keyword: 2023 Mercedes-AMG C63 Will Get 660 HP and 553 LB-FT From a Hybrid Turbo Four-Cylinder