The rumors are true. Michael Schiebe, CEO of Mercedes-AMG, has confirmed the development of a V8 engine that will be both more powerful and more efficient.
What was expected has now happened. After customers criticized the P3 hybrid system based on a 4-cylinder engine in the AMG C 63 S and AMG GLC 63 S, and with the U.S. relaxing strict emissions standards, the V8 engine is back in the spotlight. Mercedes clients have been strongly demanding it, and now US legislation is moving in a favorable direction as well.
Michael Schiebe confirmed that Mercedes-AMG will continue building 8-cylinder engines—not just for tradition’s sake, but also to meet customer demand. Moreover, as previously reported, Mercedes-AMG will develop a brand-new V8 engine that is more powerful and more efficient.
Mercedes-AMG had already confirmed back in February that the new V8 will be equipped with a flat-plane crankshaft, a solution used in high-revving motorsport engines. The flat-plane crankshaft reduces first-order inertia forces and provides a more immediate throttle response. Mercedes already has this technology, which was used in the AMG GT Black Series. The flat-plane crankshaft setup changes the engine’s sound, reducing the traditional baritone tone of AMG V8s, but delivers quicker response and superior performance.
Currently, the AMG V8 develops a minimum of 476 PS without electrification, 585/612 PS with a 48V mild hybrid system, and over 800 PS in PHEV versions.
Mercedes-AMG’s Head of Development, Steffen Jastrow, stated that the new V8 will be more powerful but also more efficient. Mercedes-AMG wants to demonstrate that large-displacement engines can still comply with future emissions regulations without sacrificing the driving pleasure customers expect.
Mercedes’ decision to develop a new V8 comes after the very poor sales of the AMG GLC 63 S and AMG C 63 S. The company’s push to electrify AMG models did not sit well with customers. However, Mercedes-AMG believes the issue was not electrification itself but rather the use of a 4-cylinder engine, since other hybrid models based on the V8 or inline-six are selling well.
Additionally, the U.S. decision to roll back strict emissions regulations is expected to reignite customer appetite for V8 engines—and the U.S. market is one of the most important and most profitable for Mercedes-AMG.
