2026 Mercedes-AMG C63 facelift to receive 3.0L six-cylinder PHEV powertrain, replacing 2.0L inline-four

Following the current W206-generation Mercedes-AMG C63 that is powered by a four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain, Mercedes-AMG has confirmed to Autocar that the model’s facelift will feature a six-cylinder PHEV powertrain.

The German manufacturer has confirmed that the high-performance sedan’s 680 PS/1,020 Nm electrified, 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder powertrain will be replaced by a new PHEV 3.0 litre six-cylinder setup, expected to produce 487 PS or over 660 PS/881 Nm with electric drive. This will be a development of the M256M 3.0 litre turbocharged unit that outputs 449 PS and 560 Nm (600 Nm in overboost), as featured in the CLE53.

Electrification in the new 3.0L six-cylinder powertrain is set to take on a different configuration as well, and it has been said to use a ‘P2’ layout of having the electric motor located between the engine and gearbox, rather than the current W206 C63’s ‘P3’ layout with its electric motor on the rear axle.

In addition to the C63, this revised powertrain will also go into the updated GLC63 SUV, according to Autocar. Customer resistance to the four-cylinder PHEV powertrain has led the German manufacturer’s high-performance division to reintroduce the V8 engine layout to other models, such as the upcoming CLE63 with mild-hybrid electrification.

While it was initially suggested that the C63 facelift would regain the V8, sources within the German carmaker have told the publication that packaging constraints within the C-Class’ MRA platform would make adopting the AMG V8 engine unfeasible as it requires more space not just for the engine, but also for cooling and crash protection, according to Autocar.

As for the V8 engine that will once again be installed in other Mercedes-AMG models, that will reportedly take on a flat-plane crankshaft design as featured in the engine of the AMG GT Black Series, rather than the cross-plane crankshaft that gives a V8 engine its signature noise. The switch to the flat-plane crank is to gain throttle response, higher engine speeds and a more compact crankcase design, the publication wrote.

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