Despite being one of the most technologically advanced and blisteringly powerful powertrains Mercedes has ever put in a road car, the company is said to be facing up to the fact that the 500kW/1020Nm 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid powerplant in the latest Mercedes-AMG C 63 and GLC 63 hasn't been a hit with buyers.
According to UK publication Autocar an insider has revealed that the company is preparing to phase out the controversial four-cylinder PHEV powertrain from both models, marking a significant strategic shift in the its engine line-up.
"Technically, the four-cylinder is one of the most advanced drivetrains available in a production car. It’s also right up there on performance," the unnamed source told Autocar at the recent reveal of the AMG GT XX Concept.
"But despite this, it failed to resonate with our traditional customers. We’ve recognised that."
Introduced in 2022, the 2.0-litre M139-based four-cylinder engine, paired with an electric motor drew criticism from enthusiasts for its lack of character and the drivetrain's weight compared to its V8-powered predecessor.
But there is actually another key reason at play in AMG's shift in thinking, because it turns out that the investment in making the four-cylinder engine comply with upcoming Euro 7 emission regulations is "very high", according to the insider, making it potentially more cost effective to develop a new V8 designed to meet the regulations.
Which, as it turns out, is exactly what AMG and Mercedes are doing with future petrol-powered Mercedes-AMG models set to adopt either an updated version of today’s inline six-cylinder engine or an all-new V8 featuring a flat-plane crankshaft, similar to the design used by the AMG GT Black Series.
Speaking to media at the GT XX launch event Mercedes-Benz CTO Markus Schäfer confirmed that AMG and Mercedes are collaborating on a brand-new V8 engine saying "There will still be six and eight-cylinder units, all electrified with either 48V systems or full hybrid set-ups."
Schäfer also affirmed AMG’s commitment to a "dual-drivetrain strategy" saying that "the electric pillar will grow significantly. But the second pillar – [electrified] internal-combustion engines – will also remain".