While Merc's change of heart regarding AMG's top powertrains is welcome, there's an audible twist coming that old-school V8 lovers might not like

After flirting with a 4-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain for some of its 63-series models, Mercedes-Benz AMG now looks to be returning to a V-8.

The CLE 53 4MATIC+ Coupe undercuts the old E 53 Coupe by almost 20,000 dollars and offers better straight-line acceleration over its predecessor

AMG has played with smaller engines in the recent past, controversially swapping the V8 out of the C63 for a four-cylinder powerplant. Downsizing is a common trend nowadays in the auto industry, but it was received with varying degrees of love from the brand's faithful as they yearned for that V8 grit.

The Mercedes-AMG C 63 will switch back to a V8 engine from its current 2-litre hybrid setup next year, confirmed our sister publication Autocar UK. Mercedes launched the track-focused sedan in India in December 2024 but it has not been well-appreciated with the downsized setup.