• According to the report, the Mercedes-AMG CLE 63 will ship with a turbocharged V8 instead of the 671-horsepower PHEV four-cylinder found in the C63 and GLC 63
  • Sales of 63-badged PHEV models fell short of expectations as buyers preferred to trade a few horses for more character
  • Also, installing a four-cylinder in the CLE 63 would have been confusing for buyers when the CLE 53 has six cylinders

The V8 battle starts here. Mercedes-AMG is reportedly ditching a twin-turbocharged eight-cylinder in its upcoming CLE 63 coupe and convertible, due in part to slow sales of the C63 S and GLC 63 four-cylinder PHEV models.

AMG replaced the 4.0-liter V8 in the C 63 sedan and wagon, as well as the GLC 63 SUV, with a 2.0-liter plug-in four-cylinder engine that produces a massive 671 hp (680 hp). , yet reviewers and buyers were left in the lurch by the soulless powertrain and unwelcome pounds of hardware added.

Related: Sales of the 4-cylinder Mercedes AMG C63 are said to be extremely disappointing in Germany

Autocar reports that sluggish demand for the four-cylinder models has forced AMG to reverse its plans to put the same engine in the two-door models and that they will now get a mild-hybrid version of the old-fashioned 575 hp (585 hp). Instead, twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V8. This will inevitably lead to a loss in performance, but this will pay off in a much more emotional driving experience.

Another factor in deciding to go the V8 route is that the 2025 CLE 53 was already introduced with a 443 hp (449 PS) turbocharged six-cylinder engine and AMG was concerned that some buyers might be confused if asked to pay more for a car with the ’63 badge and fewer cylinders than the ’53, even if it adds more power to a stack. This is not a problem for the four-cylinder models C63 and GLC 63, as the models below (marked “43”) also have four-cylinder engines.

Mercedes-AMG CLE 63 gets a V8 because no one wants the PHEV four-banger of the C63
The CLE 53 features a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with 443 horsepower

The big question now is whether AMG will do a U-turn with the existing C63 and GLC 63 and return to V8 power to regain sales and reputation among enthusiasts. The CLE is based on the same platform as these cars, so we know the engine will fit, but it would be an embarrassing step down for the company.

This is what Markus Schäfer, Head of Research and Development at Mercedes-Benz, said Autocar that the company was studying sales patterns and said it would let customers decide how to proceed.