Still Got It: AMG’s V8 Refuses to Fade Quietly Into the Electric Night

By Team Dailyrevs  

Still Got It: AMG’s V8 Refuses to Fade Quietly Into the Electric Night

  • The V8’s sticking around. AMG is working on a brand-new flat-plane V8 with hybrid assist.

  • Fans weren’t thrilled about the 4-cylinder AMGs. Cool sales of the latest C63 and C43 likely made Stuttgart rethink things.

  • This is AMG keeping its identity intact, while still moving (somewhat) with the times.

Yep, the V8 Still Lives—and It’s Evolving

If you’ve been worried that AMG was about to ditch its big, brawny V8 in favor of whisper-quiet electrification and complicated hybrid setups… well, you're not alone. But here's the good news: the V8 isn’t going anywhere. Not yet.

In fact, AMG’s already working on a fresh one. It’s got a flat-plane crankshaft (more on that in a second), a 48V mild-hybrid system, and it’s shaping up to be the kind of engine that makes gearheads grin—and regulators back off (at least temporarily).

This isn’t just about keeping the noise alive. It’s AMG doing what AMG does best: making performance personal.

Flat-Plane Crank? Sounds Fancy. It Is.

The new V8 ditches the traditional cross-plane setup (you know, that low, thumping burble we all associate with AMGs) and goes flat-plane instead—like a Ferrari V8, or the latest Corvette Z06.

That means quicker revs, a sharper throttle, and a much angrier exhaust note. Not necessarily louder—just tighter, more focused. Think F1 car energy instead of muscle car thunder.

Pair that with mild-hybrid assist to help fill the torque gap, and you've got a V8 that’s a little smarter, but still very much unfiltered AMG.

What Went Wrong With the 4-Cylinder AMGs?

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the latest C43 and C63.

Both ditched the V6 and V8 in favor of high-strung 2.0-liter four-cylinders with electric help. On paper, the performance was solid. But in reality? It just didn’t hit right. The character was off. The sound wasn’t there. It felt like AMG was trying too hard to please the spec sheet and forgot about the driver.

Enthusiasts took notice—and so did the sales charts.

Neither car has been lighting up the market, and while Mercedes hasn’t officially blamed poor reception, you don’t start investing in a brand-new V8 just for fun. Let’s be honest: the silence from buyers spoke louder than any exhaust note.

The Clock Is Ticking, But Not Out Yet

We all know the EU plans to phase out new combustion engines by 2035. But we’re not there yet, and Mercedes clearly sees a window. They’ve got time to give the V8 one last proper chapter.

This new engine isn’t a gimmick or a nostalgia play—it’s a modern take on what AMG does best. And for buyers who still want something that feels alive, this is exactly the kind of response they were hoping for.

What Cars Might Get It?

No one’s naming names yet, but odds are the next AMG GT is first in line. We could also see it in future S-Class performance trims or maybe even a new flagship model built specifically around this engine.

It’s not going to be mass-market. It’s going to be special—exactly what a V8 should be in this era.

This Isn’t Just About Performance—It’s About Personality

At the end of the day, people don’t buy AMGs just for lap times or horsepower bragging rights. They buy them because they make you feel something the moment you start them up.

The fact that AMG is building a new V8 at all says a lot. It’s not just about the engine—it’s about keeping the brand’s DNA alive, even as everything else gets digitized, downsized, and electrified.

Final Thoughts

Mercedes-AMG isn’t ignoring the future—but they’re also not pretending that a 4-cylinder hybrid is going to scratch the same itch as a roaring V8. The lukewarm reception to the C43 and C63 made that clear.

So now, they’re hitting reset—and giving fans what they really want: an AMG that sounds, feels, and behaves like an AMG. For however long it lasts, this next-gen V8 might just be the encore the faithful have been waiting for.

Source: Caranddriver