Mercedes-AMG has faced plenty of criticism for embracing four-cylinder engines in many of its latest offerings. The company's high-output four-cylinder is technologically impressive, and when paired with plug-in hybrid assist, it's makes class-leading power. However, it lacks the V8 rumble, and the hybridizing brings about other compromises. Even AMG's CEO has admitted this. Fortunately for customers, the company is getting back to engines with six and eight cylinders, and it sounds like they won't be restricted to just a handful of models (at least, not anymore than AMGs were already).Mercedes-Benz "Other Cars Will Get It Too" The above words come from AMG CEO Michael Scheibe, according to Car magazine, and were regarding the rollout of AMG's new V8s. Before that, he said that SUVs would be the first to get the engine later this year. It's not clear what SUV that will be. One possibility could be a new GLE 63. Mercedes just launched a refreshed version of it, and it has a 580 variant that has the same updated flat-plane crank V8 from the S-Class. That engine is likely the basis for AMG's new V8, so the GLE would be a logical choice since it's already revised for the new engine.Mercedes-BenzWe already knew that at least some Mercedes car models would be getting the new AMG V8, too. The automaker has been testing a CLE coupe with a V8 for some time now. However, it will be a highly limited "Mythos" model, not a mainstream AMG car. Scheibe's statement suggests to us that the V8 will be more broadly available. The GT and SL seem guaranteed for the updated eight-cylinder, as does an AMG S-Class.Mercedes-Benz That leaves the C-Class and E-Class. We know that a six-cylinder AMG C-Class is in the works, since Mercedes is introducing a new GLC 53 Coupe with a six-cylinder, temporarily replacing the four-cylinder PHEV GLC 63. It seems unlikely to us, though, that AMG would leave the sub-500-horsepower straight-six as the top-rung for its compact models, especially when the four-cylinder PHEV was making 671 horses. Also, since Scheibe told Car that the 577-hp six-cylinder PHEV E-Class models would stick around, we're putting our bets on the C-Class getting a V8 at some point, possibly along with its GLC SUV counterparts. What To Expect From The V8 As we already touched on, the new AMG V8 will probably be based on the M177 Evo engine that made its debut in the S-Class. Like the engine Mercedes was already using, it's a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8, but now with a flat-plane crankshaft rather than a cross-plane. It also has a 48-volt mild-hybrid assist system, and a host of small changes to details with intake and exhaust ports, and fuel injection system. All of this brings the output to 530 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque.The AMG version of this engine will naturally make more power, the question, though, is how much? Some versions of the old V8 already make around 600 hp, so that would seem like the base line for the new version. Similarly, the old engine can also make nearly 630 lb-ft of torque, giving us another benchmark. Fortunately, if the first of these new V8 AMGs is revealed later this year, we won't have long to wait for all the details.
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