A lot of digital ink has been spilled since Mercedes did the unthinkable and rolled out a four-cylinder C63. Although sales numbers were never released, the heavy discounts suggest that AMG has struggled to convince buyers that the electrified 2.0-liter is worth their money. High-ranking officials have even gone on record admitting the company “has lost some customers” after the V-8’s demise. But the three-pointed star is looking to make amends. Well, sort of. Mathias Geisen, Member of the Board of Management, Marketing & Sales, hinted in an interview with Auto Express that the C63 could get a bigger engine after all. Don’t expect the V-8 to return, though; it’s not happening. An all-new eight-cylinder is in development at home in Affalterbach, but Mercedes recently told us the flagship C-Class won’t get it. The next best thing? An inline-six may be on the horizon for the performance sedan. “We will have some options where we had a four-cylinder, which will also be available as a six-cylinder going forward. There may or may not be a hybrid, it might be pure ICE, maybe. We’ll let you know when we’re there.” It’s not the first time we’ve heard about a six-cylinder C63. A few months back, enthusiast site Mercedes-Benz Passion Blog reported that AMG could fit a mild-hybrid 3.0-liter, codenamed “M256M.” This straight-six is already found in several Mercedes models, including the CLE53, as well as the Aston Martin DBX. Mercedes-AMG C63 with four-cylinder engine However, the German report speculated the hottest C-Class might drop the C63 badge in favor of C53. Interestingly, Autocar suggested AMG could instead keep the C63 name for a plug-in hybrid with six cylinders. Which version proves true remains to be seen, but between the rumors and Mercedes’ official comments, it’s increasingly likely the four-cylinder setup will give way to an inline-six. Some form of electrification is expected to meet tougher emissions rules. The switch could happen as early as next year. The C-Class is due for a mid-cycle facelift in 2026, which should coincide with the launch of a flagship model. Whether it’s called C63 or C53 is unclear, but Mercedes-AMG won’t abandon this niche. The GLC 63 is expected to follow suit once it arrives, likely in 2027. If the name change does happen, it would make sense to see a lower starting price. In the U.S., where the C63 is sold only as a sedan, it starts at $87,200 including destination, before options. That makes it just $1,675 cheaper than the M3 Competition xDrive. Speaking of its Bavarian rival, BMW has already confirmed the next-generation M3 will retain its inline-six, debuting in 2028, or about a year after the electric M3. Audi Sport, meanwhile, is preparing a new RS5 Avant to replace the RS4 wagon, with the same cylinder count. In Audi’s case, though, a V-6 is all but confirmed as the core of a plug-in hybrid system.
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