Is the 4 Pot AMG C63 Dead? Mercedes Shifts Gears Toward a Straight-Six Future with the C53

• AMG C63 may be replaced by a six-cylinder C53 model as part of the W206 mid-cycle facelift.

• New C53 likely to use a 3.0-liter straight-six with mild or plug-in hybrid tech, ditching the current 2.0-liter PHEV.

• Sales-driven shift back to more emotional, enthusiast-oriented performance platforms.

Mercedes-AMG’s Pivot: From Four-Cylinder Hybrids to Straight-Six German Muscle

The AMG badge has long stood for raw emotion, thundering exhaust notes, and a connection to performance heritage. But in recent years, that identity has been tested. The move to four-cylinder plug-in hybrids, like in the current C63 S E Performance, alienated a sizable chunk of AMG loyalists—even as Mercedes doubled down on its electrification roadmap.

Now, it seems Mercedes-AMG is preparing to admit the obvious: the market didn’t warm up to a 2.0-liter PHEV C63.

According to multiple reports, including Mercedes-Benz Passion Blog and Autocar, both the C43 and C63 are set to be discontinued. Their replacements? A new C53 4Matic+, riding on the W206 C-Class platform, and powered by a 3.0-liter inline-six—a familiar engine configuration that’s already doing duty in models like the CLE 53 and E53.

A Return to the Straight-Six: The M256’s Revival

Enthusiasts can exhale. The rumored engine for the upcoming C53 is the M256 inline-six, likely a mild-hybrid or plug-in hybrid variant. While not a full reversal of AMG’s electrification trend, this move is a clear pivot back toward something more visceral and balanced.

Here’s a look at what we know so far:

Performance vs. Practicality: Shedding Pounds and Regaining Soul

Weight, not power, might be the key story here. The current C63 PHEV weighs over 4,800 lbs, which many critics feel dulls its dynamic edge. The upcoming C53, if it ditches the rear-mounted electric motor for a front-mounted P2 layout, could offer better weight distribution and reduced curb weight—restoring some of the agility fans expect from AMG.

But numbers aren’t everything. The sonorous growl of a straight-six, paired with AMG’s chassis tuning, might reignite the emotional connection that the outgoing four-cylinder hybrids struggled to inspire.

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Mercedes Plays Coy—but the Writing Is on the Wall

Mercedes-Benz has refused to confirm or deny the reports, as expected. But insiders speaking to Autocar claim this move is real—and imminent. The C-Class mid-cycle facelift is due soon, and the GLC is expected to follow a similar path with a six-cylinder hybrid option by 2027.

It's worth noting that the MRA platform can't easily accommodate a V8 anymore, making a return to the burly C63s of yesteryear unlikely without a full architecture overhaul.

Still, in this climate, a six-cylinder hybrid might be the best of both worlds.

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A Sound Business Decision—or a Passion Play?

Whether Mercedes is acting out of pragmatism or passion is debatable. What’s clear is that C63 sales have disappointed, particularly in markets like the U.S. and Germany. Dealers have been sitting on unsold units, prompting steep discounts—and perhaps this philosophical pivot.

Quoting AMG CEO Michael Schiebe, who once called the electrified four-cylinder “very, very progressive,” the reality seems to be that progress doesn’t always sell. Mercedes Australia CEO Jaime Cohen compared customer reluctance to early smartphone adoption—an analogy that now feels, in hindsight, overly optimistic.

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What Comes Next?

Expect the 2026 Mercedes-AMG C53 to debut with more than 440 horsepower, smoother power delivery, and a design language that reflects AMG’s renewed focus on emotional performance. And while it may not carry the C63 badge, the C53 W206 facelift could very well embody the true AMG spirit better than its predecessor ever did.

Source : AutoCar

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Click here to view high-resolution images of the current Mercedes-AMG C43

Click here to view high-resolution images of the current Mercedes-AMG C63

Click here to view high-resolution images of the current Mercedes-AMG CLE 53