AMG-Chef vertraut auf Elektro-Zukunft: V8-Liebhaber werden umsteigen

The head of AMG believes V8 customers will transition to electric power

The Chief Executive Officer remarks that vehicles with V8 engines were purchased not solely for the engine but for the technology as well

Following the realization that AMG buyers will embrace four-cylinder hybrids as readily as they do smartphones (refer to links at the bottom), the head of Mercedes's high-performance division makes another bold claim. In a conversation with the British publication Autocar, AMG boss Michael Schiebe expressed great confidence that consumers will switch from a hefty V8 engine to an electric powertrain without any issues.

Customers attracted to the brand by the V8 engine were not merely seeking a large engine. They were drawn by their passion for the cutting-edge technology incorporated into the vehicle. Therefore, when it comes to electric driving, I'm quite convinced they will eagerly embrace this innovative technology, as it represents the latest and greatest offering available.

The essence of the message here is that AMG is trying to convince us that their clientele in Affalterbach values technology above all. Apparently, if the latest innovations don't feature an internal combustion engine, their customers are ready to transition to electric vehicles. Sooner or later, the "one man, one engine philosophy" will draw to a close, and it seems Schiebe is of the opinion that consumers will readily embrace electric vehicles as long as they embody the cutting-edge technology.

The V8 engine isn't going anywhere anytime soon. AMG has assured that new eight-cylinder models are still in the pipeline. A recently surfaced spy video suggests that the CLE 63 will once again be equipped with a Biturbo V8. Initially, the top-tier CLE was slated to feature a downsized, electrified powertrain, but lackluster demand for the current C 63 prompted AMG to change course late in the development stage.

Photo Gallery: 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance

While exact sales figures for the C 63 are not available, significant discounts in Germany suggest it's not particularly popular. The C 63 isn't the only AMG model to ditch its V8 engine, as the GLC 63 also moves away from the 4.0-liter bi-turbo engine. Moreover, Mercedes has already declared that the upcoming E 63 will not feature an eight-cylinder engine.

During an earlier interview, Schiebe acknowledged that for some AMG clients, there might be a need for an adjustment period in embracing the 2.0-liter plug-in hybrid system. He emphasized the importance of being open-minded towards this technology. Reflecting on past decisions, Schiebe justified the company's choice to incorporate a four-cylinder engine into the C 63, describing the plug-in hybrid system as "extremely advanced."

In defense of AMG, it's fair to note that the company has backed up its claims with actions. Not only has it launched a series of high-performance plug-in hybrid vehicles, but it's also in the process of creating a custom electric vehicle platform. This platform, known as AMG.EA, has been under development for several years, and according to Autocar, there's speculation that an all-electric supercar is currently in the pipeline.

It is expected to draw inspiration from the concept of last year's Vision One-Eleven, which was a tribute to the iconic C 111, and serve as the spiritual successor to the quad-motor 2013 SLS AMG Electric Drive.

Further information on AMG:

AMG has ruled out the possibility of creating another hypercar powered by F1 technology to succeed the One, due to the increasingly stringent emission regulations. Within Mercedes' extensive range of products, there still exist numerous models with six and eight-cylinder engines, and there's even a formidable V12 powering the Maybach S-Class.

In general, one can still purchase a vehicle with the desired number of cylinders, however, the choices are becoming increasingly limited.

Source: Autocar

Most Read

MOST RECENT ARTICLES

MOST RECENT ARTICLES

About this article