Mercedes-AMG E63 could switch to six-cylinder PHEV for next generation

Complying with increasingly stricter emissions regulations is giving automakers serious headaches since engineers must constantly find ways to make combustion engines even more efficient. However, that’s still not enough, which is why the displacement of gasoline mills is decreasing and electrification is becoming the norm rather than the exception.

Case in point, the new Mercedes-AMG C63 coming next year will eschew its V8 engine in favor of a considerably smaller 2.0-liter, four-cylinder as part of a plug-in hybrid powertrain. A new report states the E63 will also catch the downsizing bug as Auto Express claims the high-performance sedan will also lose its twin-turbo 4.0-liter unit. However, rather than switching to a four-pot, the British magazine believes it will boast a six-cylinder unit.

That makes sense considering Mercedes is gradually phasing out its V6 offerings in favor of a newer, smoother, and thriftier straight-six unit. The 3.0-liter is already available in a number of models and logic tells us the engineers have developed the powertrain with electrification in mind. As a matter of fact, it already boasts mild-hybrid tech and is used not only in models carrying the three-pointed star, but also the Aston Martin DBX SUV in China.

In AMG’s “53” models, the inline-six is good for 429 horsepower and 384 pound-feet (520 Newton-meters). Adding an electric motor should bump those output numbers close to those of the current AMG E63 S and its meaty 603 hp and 627 lb-ft (850 Nm). While efficiency is likely to increase without losing power, weight is a real concern considering the super sedan is already heavy as it is. The extra hardware commanded by the PHEV would make it even more of a porker.

It’s going to be a long wait for the next AMG E63 since the standard Benz model was caught testing for the first time only a few days ago. The official debut of the regular E-Class is likely slated to take place by the end of 2022 or early 2023, with the AMG probably due roughly a year later.

Meanwhile, the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E-Performance is the flagship plug-in hybrid from Affalterbach with over 830 horsepower and a monstrous 1,400 Newton-meters (1,033 pound-feet) of torque.

Source: Auto Express