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# Mercedes-AMG ‘underestimated’ fan’s love of V8s
- URL: https://torquecafe.com/mercedes-amg-underestimated-fans-love-of-v8s/
- Published: 2026-10-19T04:03:48.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-19T04:03:48.000Z
- Description: Amid its move to reintroduce a wider range of V8s across its lineup, Mercedes-AMG bosses have admitted they got it wrong by downsizing its engines.
- Author: Jordan Mulach
- Tags: News, Performance

It’s been three years since Mercedes-AMG made the bold decision to fit its long-popular C63 super sedan with a four-cylinder engine and plug-in hybrid system, but the brand’s fans aren’t letting it forget its mistake.

AMG’s decision to downsize some of its cars (including the larger E63) from V8 engines to six- or even four-cylinder hybrid systems has been widely criticised, and now the German performance marque is doing what it can to backtrack.

It has already said that there will be a growing number of V8-powered models in the near future, and now Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius has admitted to US publication [*Road and Track*](https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a74167881/mercedes-benz-execs-hint-at-plans-for-the-next-gen-g-class-more-v-8-amg-models/?ref=torquecafe.com) that the brand lost customers in the move from V8s.

“What we perhaps underestimated at the time was the good old V8 crowd is a pretty good crowd,” Källenius said. 

[Mercedes-AMG’s new V8 supercar caught on cameraThe new Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series is currently undergoing testing, promising to be one of the brand’s most extreme cars yet.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/a9/b3/a9b3e204-3117-4792-9a32-46184029df44/content/images/icon/cropped-favicon-d792f413-5470-436d-b39c-3f886e12c093.png)TorquecafeJordan Mulach![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/a9/b3/a9b3e204-3117-4792-9a32-46184029df44/content/images/thumbnail/mercedes-amg-gt-black-series-teaser-1-312f2185-1c12-43ca-8a2b-9b22c0a53fd6.jpg)](https://torquecafe.com/mercedes-amgs-new-v8-supercar-caught-on-camera/)

“So you did not get the whole tribe with you.”

[Earlier this year](https://torquecafe.com/mercedes-amg-c63-dead-without-v8-resurrection-report/), reports emerged that the newer four-cylinder hybrid C63 was being dropped entirely, with the next version of the sedan to be a six-cylinder hybrid, but instead badged as the C53.

Though emissions from the four-cylinder were cited at the time, it’s understood a drop in sales coincided with its move from V8 power.

In the latest *Road and Track* report, AMG CEO Stefan Weckbach added that the brand is responding to its customers’ concerns.

[Mercedes-AMG’s latest V8 coupe is a German Mustang GTDThe limited edition Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung marks the return of high-power, twin-turbo V8s in the AMG lineup.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/a9/b3/a9b3e204-3117-4792-9a32-46184029df44/content/images/icon/cropped-favicon-e7fc0ab0-0242-4bb3-985e-1c4bd867e936.png)TorquecafeJordan Mulach![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/a9/b3/a9b3e204-3117-4792-9a32-46184029df44/content/images/thumbnail/mercedes-amg-cle-646-Spezialanfertigung-7-d99ff42f-cab6-4001-b0db-3f144503a3b3.jpg)](https://torquecafe.com/car-news-2027-mercedes-amg-cle-646-v8-revealed/)

“We learn from the reaction of our customers. So we go back to what our customers love: the V8 AMGs.”

The return of V8s to the wider Mercedes-Benz lineup will happen in stages, with Källenius telling [*MotorTrend*](https://www.motortrend.com/news/future-mercedes-benz-evs-amg-gas-engines?ref=torquecafe.com) in May that the new ‘M177 Evo’ V8 (fitted with a flat-plane crankshaft) will be the offered in three distinct guises: “the Mercedes-Benz \[version\], the AMG \[version\], and the ‘go crazy’ AMG \[version\].”

We’ve already seen what the Benz version is in the new S-Class, while the first AMG version is under the bonnet of the [CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung](https://torquecafe.com/car-news-2027-mercedes-amg-cle-646-v8-revealed/), revealed last month.

A slightly toned-down V8 is expected to be under the bonnet of the upcoming CLE63, while the ‘go crazy’ version will undoubtedly power the [upcoming GT Black Series](https://torquecafe.com/mercedes-amgs-new-v8-supercar-caught-on-camera/).