For now it's just a rumor. According to British autocar, the next generation Mercedes-AMG C 63 (which should see the light of day in 2021) will abandon the V8 (M 177) to adopt a small but fiery four-cylinder in-line.
According to the British publication, the engine chosen to occupy the place vacated by the V8 will be the M 139 that we have already found in the Mercedes-AMG A 45. With a capacity of 2.0 l, this engine offers in its most powerful version 421 hp and 500 Nm of torque , numbers that make it the most powerful production four-cylinder.
Impressive numbers, but still far from the 510 hp and 700 Nm that the twin-turbo V8 delivers in its most powerful variant, the C 63 S — is there more juice to extract from the M 139?
Autocar adds that the M 139 should be associated with the EQ Boost system, as happens with the V6 of the E 53 4Matic+ Coupe. If this is confirmed, the M 139 will be “matched” to a parallel electrical system of 48 V, an electric motor-generator (in the E 53 it delivers 22 hp and 250 Nm) and a set of batteries.
Why this solution?
According to the British publication, the decision to exchange the V8 for the M 139 in the next generation of the Mercedes-AMG C 63 is due… to emissions. Focused on reducing CO2 emissions from its range — in 2021 the average emissions per manufacturer will have to be 95 g/km — Mercedes-AMG thus looks at extreme downsizing (half capacity, half cylinders) as a possible solution to the problem.
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As for other possible benefits of switching from the V8 to the four-cylinder are related to the weight — the M 139 weighs 48.5 kg less than the M 177, standing at 160.5 kg — and the fact that it stays in a lower position, something that would lower the center of gravity.
Source: Autocar