The upcoming Mercedes-AMG CLE 63 will obtain a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine creating as much as 585bhp, senior officers on the division’s Mercedes-Benz father or mother firm have confirmed.
The determination reverses an earlier plan to offer the recent new coupé and cabriolet the identical 670bhp plug-in hybrid drivetrain as the newest C63 and GLC 63, resulting from sluggish gross sales of the saloon, property and SUV.
Despite its class-leading efficiency, conventional AMG consumers haven’t taken to the E-Performance PHEV drivetrain, which mixes a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and a rear-axle mounted electrical motor.
Sales of the fashions are at present nicely beneath these of their V8 predecessors throughout AMG’s international markets. The newest model of AMG’s M177 V8 engine, which options mild-hybrid expertise, will energy essentially the most potent variations of the brand new CLE consequently, Autocar has been informed.
Those fashions can be positioned above the CLE 53 Coupé and Cabriolet, which run a turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine that produces 442bhp. The transfer comes as Mercedes’ efficiency automobile division units about establishing the CLE as a direct rival to the BMW M4, which affords as much as 542bhp from a twin-turbo 3.0-litre straight six in its most potent kind.
Mercedes sources say the choice to supply the CLE with V8 energy is expounded not solely to the lukewarm response to the PHEV C63 and GLC 63 fashions but additionally to suggestions from its international vendor community. Dealers had instructed the potential positioning of a four-cylinder CLE 63 range-topper above the six-cylinder CLE 53 would result in confusion amongst potential clients.
Markus Schäfer, head of Mercedes-Benz’s R&D operations, has indicated the corporate is monitoring intently monitoring gross sales of the C63 and GLC 63 amid requires them to return to V8 energy. Speaking finally month’s Beijing present, Schäfer stated will probably be “up to customers to decide” whether or not AMG continues with its downsized petrol-electric drivetrain.
He added: “We will stay close to the feedback of people and customers, and then we will go from that.” Autocar first drove the newest C63 in late 2022, however the mannequin is just now reaching the UK market. Only the GLC 63 has since been launched or confirmed with this drivetrain, resulting in hypothesis that the four-cylinder PHEV choice could be dropped.
Schäfer stated the powertrain had been impressed by the downsized hybrids utilized in Formula 1, mixing “a high-performance internal combustion engine with a strong electrical side”.
He stated it delivered “stunning, stunning performance”, besides, the agency continues to be persevering with to launch V8-powered AMG fashions too, together with the brand new SL, the GT and the S63.
“We decided for the C-Class to go with the four-cylinder and a strong electrical side,” Schäfer stated. “We decided for the GT and the S-Class to go with the eight [-cylinder] with the same electric side. We have to see what the customer ultimately decides.”