In what appears to be an admission of a costly misjudgment, Mercedes-Benz is reportedly abandoning its controversial four-cylinder hybrid powertrain for the upcoming CLE63 AMG, returning instead to its traditional V8 engine. This decision comes amid dismal sales of the current C63 AMG, which had boldly replaced its beloved V8 with a high-output hybrid four-cylinder setup.
The scale of the C63’s market rejection is starkly illustrated in the Netherlands. According to a report by Dutch magazine AD, only three units were sold in the first eight months after launch—and one of those was a demonstration model from the importer. This sales performance is particularly troubling for a flagship model that traditionally served as a cornerstone of AMG’s performance lineup.
Despite offering impressive specifications—671 horsepower from its hybrid powertrain, making it the most powerful C63 ever—the model has faced fierce resistance from traditional AMG enthusiasts. The primary criticism isn’t about performance numbers, but rather the intangible elements that made AMG vehicles special: the distinctive V8 rumble, the emotional connection, and the brand’s heritage.
AMG CEO Michael Schiebe has publicly acknowledged the miscalculation. “We see that some of our very loyal customers are having a bit of trouble with the concept,” he told Car Magazine, before more candidly admitting, “We have undoubtedly lost a number of customers who only like V8 cars.”
The upcoming CLE63 AMG was originally slated to receive the same four-cylinder hybrid powertrain. However, according to recent reports, Mercedes has reversed course, opting instead for their familiar twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8. While this means the new model will produce around 585 horsepower—nearly 100 less than the hybrid C63—the decision suggests Mercedes has concluded that customer satisfaction and brand identity outweigh pure performance metrics.
This reversal represents more than just an engineering decision; it’s a recognition that the path to electrification in the performance car segment may require a more gradual transition than Mercedes initially planned. The company’s experience with the C63 demonstrates that even when new technology offers superior performance on paper, the emotional and experiential aspects of performance cars remain crucial to their appeal.
For Mercedes-AMG, the challenge now becomes balancing their need to evolve toward an electrified future while maintaining the characteristic elements that made their vehicles desirable in the first place. The V8-powered CLE63 may buy them time, but it’s clear that successfully transitioning their performance lineup to incorporate electrification will require more than just impressive power figures—it will need to capture the soul that made AMG vehicles special in the first place.
