Hundreds of Kilos Lighter, Hundreds of Horsepower Less Strong
The absolute top version of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class has not been immune to criticism. The Mercedes-AMG C 63 4Matic is a very heavy plug-in hybrid with a 2.0 four-cylinder petrol engine. That car is set to make way for a sporty variant with two extra cylinders.
The Mercedes-AMG C63 SE Performance caused quite a stir upon its arrival. With a system output of 680 hp and 1,020 Nm, the car was groundbreakingly powerful, but there was much to criticize about the source of that power. The V8 of the previous C63 was replaced by a turbocharged 2.0 four-cylinder, a significantly smaller petrol engine supplemented by an electric motor. The C63 SE Performance is a plug-in hybrid that is not only heavier than its predecessor, but also has a different character due to its design and extra weight. After several years, Mercedes-Benz is coming up with a solution, but that doesn’t mean the V8 will return.
Yet, what Mercedes-Benz is going to do is remarkable. According to reports from Edmunds, who spoke with AMG boss Michael Schiebe, it’s over for the Mercedes-AMG C 63 E Performance. A new top version called Mercedes-AMG C53 will replace it. It won’t get a four-cylinder or a V8, but a petrol engine that sits in between in terms of cylinder count: an inline-six. This engine is already found in the CLE 53, where it produces nearly 450 hp.
Mercedes-AMG says it does not plan to equip the C53 with plug-in hybrid technology. If the Mercedes-AMG C53 becomes as powerful as the CLE 53, the top-tier C will lose a good 230 hp. What it will also lose: a lot of kilos.
According to Schiebe, it is difficult to make the four-cylinder of the C63 E Performance comply with the Euro 7 emission standard. The decision to replace the plug-in hybrid top-C with a C53 without electric assistance therefore does not seem to be a reaction to the criticism of the plug-in hybrid C63 E Performance.