Going from eight to four cylinders for the latest C 63 and GLC 63 was a controversial move that still fuels debate among enthusiasts. In these models' defense, they are significantly more powerful than their predecessors. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder works in concert with a rear-mounted electric motor that sucks electrons from a 6.1 kWh drums.
How much are we looking at? That would be a whopping 670 horsepower (680 ps/500 kW) and 752 lb-ft (1,020 Nm) of torque. Mercedes-AMG says the C 63 takes just 3.4 seconds to reach 62 mph (100 km/h) and tops out at 174 mph (280 km/h). Its GLC 63 counterpart is a tenth slower and can push up to 171 mph or 275 km/h, which isn’t bad at all for a premium compact crossover.
However, a few years ago, a popular meme was circulating showing the 6.3-liter brand emblem on an older model AMG (which was actually a 6.2-liter V8 engined car), stating that only milk and fruit juice are available in two-liters. Guess what? We now have full-blown AMGs with 2-liter engines, and it's not just a phase, as the three-pointed star brand wants us to get used to it.
Photo: Mercedes
At a recent meeting with CarSales Australia to mark the local launch of the GLC 63, the company's head of Australia, Jaime Cohen, defended the move from twin-turbo V8 power to 2.0-litre hybrid engines.Slowly, this will develop, and I have no reservations. I think it will still be a very successful vehicle. I don't think there is a problem. It is a transition, and transitions always take time and always require some conviction and experience,” Cohen said.
But why does the executive defend the new 2.0-liter AMG 63 hybrids beyond the obvious? Well, because “it's about performance.” Cohen added that “It would be a problem if we couldn't provide the same performance [with its PHEV]but once you drive it, you realize that the performance is guaranteed.“Yes, and you also see that there is no longer the V8 rumble and that the only slightly aggressive sound that invades the cabin when you abuse the right pedal is fake, because a 2.0-liter engine might be good in some models, but it is not a fire-breathing monster and certainly not worth the AMG heritage. As you will remember, the old AMGs used to sound extremely good, and that is no longer the case.
Cohen is so confident that the new 2.0-liter AMG 63s will be a success that he likened the move to a small plug-in hybrid to abandoning manual transmissions. The Mercedes official said that new technologies can take a long time to gain widespread acceptance, and he is confident that the new 63s will eventually become popular.I still love manual transmissions. If you ask me, I would buy one. But the market has evolved, and the market has changed. When we first moved, not everyone was sold on our automatic transmissions. But finally now… everyone has one.“
Photo: Mercedes
Mercedes-AMG’s new C63 and GLC63 are significantly more frugal and less polluting than their older cars. Plus, the plug-in hybrid powertrain is punchier, so it seems like the best move on paper. In reality, these are the final years of the internal combustion engine (sadly), and other companies have proven that it’s still possible to create successful products that feature big gas mills, with or without electric assistance. And we think Mercedes could have done better. Much better. Like launching a late-model V8-powered C63 (and GLC63) and sticking a big engine under the hood as an ode to the mighty V8.
Such a model would have won over its rivals BMW M and Audi Sport, and probably stolen some sales because not everyone cares about fuel efficiency, so the three-pointed star brand could have profited from it. After all, it's always good to have more choices for similar products, regardless of the field of activity, and in my opinion, the automotive world could do more with traditional cars powered by large internal combustion engines that consume a lot of gas. Not everyone is interested in crossovers and/or electric vehicles, and as mentioned above, the ICE is dying slowly but surely.
But what do you think of Mercedes switching to the new C 63 and GLC 63 with 2.0-litre PHEVs and dropping the V8 from those models? Was it a good idea? Should they reconsider this strategy? And would you ever consider buying a 2.0-litre C 63 or GLC 63, new or used, perhaps in a few years’ time? Your opinion is important to us, so use that keyboard in the comments area below.