Next Mercedes C63 to get 4.0 V8

Mercedes-Benz’s AMG performance off-shoot is planning to provide the successor to today’s naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 powered Mercedes C63 AMG with an all-new turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 powerplant – the same unit earmarked for the company’s upcoming Mercedes SLC sports car.

The new unit has been developed along modular lines and is said to share the same individual cylinder capacity, bore centre spacing and other specific details with the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder earmarked for the Mercedes A45 AMG and Mercedes CLA45 AMG.

Insiders indicate the new unit, which is claimed to deliver over 450bhp in an initial state of tune but is said to be capable of pushing out up to 600bhp, will eventually replace the naturally aspirated 5.5-litre V8 used exclusively by the Mercedes SLK55 AMG, providing a stepping stone to AMG’s larger turbocharged 5.5-litre V8.

AMG boss Ola Kallenius stopped short of officially confirming the new engine to Autocar at the Los Angeles motor show at the tail-end of last year, but hinted smaller engines were coming.

“We’ve already had downsizing to 5.5 and sophisticated direct-injection technology – we’ll see more of that in the future,” he said. We’ve already gone down to 5.5 and that's the technological road we’re on.”

As well as flaunting a new engine, the replacement for the C63 AMG will be the first of the German car maker’s performance saloons to offer the choice of rear- and four-wheel drive in right-hand drive versions.