Mercedes-AMG could in the future turn to hybrid four-cylinder engines

The Mercedes-AMG could cause car enthusiasts to go into mourning over a decision that would affect the V8s that power almost the entire model range. Downsizing leaves no stone unturned, which benefits both the health of our planet and the environment, but it drastically hits pure-bred sports cars. The star’s house may be on the verge of giving up its current V8 engines in favour of smaller-displacement units that are capable of producing fewer CO2 emissions and delivering similar performance.

For now, Mercedes-AMG has already shown what its more modest powerplants are capable of, with the A 35 and 45 AMG being clear examples. These two variants use four-cylinder engines to produce 300 and 421 CV respectively, and the latter figure has earned it the title of the most powerful four-cylinder engine in the world.

With this premise, we can expect the brand’s German engineers to be investing a large part of their work in developing an engine with the same number of cylinders but capable of delivering more power. This is because models with a greater stature than the A-Class would turn to this type of engine and, therefore, require more exuberant horsepower.

The Mercedes-AMG C 63 could be the first of all to succumb to this significant change, which would cause its V8 engine to fade into oblivion. Currently, the C 63 uses an eight-cylinder “V” 4.0-litre engine with two turbochargers capable of producing 510 CV, a figure that its future successor will have to surpass.

To do so, the four-cylinder that will take the place of the colossal V8 could make use of a technology already present in some AMG models: light hybridisation, or mild-hybrid. Thanks to this, not only are fuel consumption and CO2 emissions reduced, but power is also increased, something that could be accentuated if a full hybrid system is used.

If so, the next batch of AMG models could feature a four-cylinder turbo engine accompanied by an electric motor that would require an external charge to operate. With this premise, we could be talking about a future Mercedes-AMG C 63 capable of producing close to 600 CV thanks to a much more modest engine that is more committed to caring for the environment.