Mercedes-Benz to Keep V8 Engines Through 2035, But No New C63 V8 Planned

Mercedes-Benz will continue producing V8 engines until at least 2035, according to Klaus Rehkugler, head of product management.

The V8 will remain in high-demand models such as the S-Class, G-Class, and GLE, particularly in markets including the United States and the Middle East.

Mercedes-Benz replaced the C63’s V8 with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder plug-in hybrid engine in 2021, which produces up to 469 horsepower.

Rehkugler said the four-door C63 was popular in North America, Australia, Japan, China, and Korea, but Mercedes-Benz is not planning a return of the V8 model in the current C-Class.

He added that the decision hinges on whether the costs of the V8 can be amortized over the remaining lifecycle of the current C-Class, and the answer is 'probably not'.

Rehkugler did not rule out the V8 returning in the next-generation C-Class, expected before the end of the decade.

He acknowledged that noise regulations are limiting performance features customers enjoy, such as 'controlled misfires and those types of things that customers just love and embrace'.

Mercedes-Benz has leaned back into combustion power since the current C63’s launch, despite declining popularity in Europe and China.

There is not enough demand or time to reintroduce the V8 in the current C-Class, which is expected to receive a facelift in the coming months.

Rehkugler noted there is sufficient global demand to sustain V8 production for at least another decade, though stringent CO2 regulations in Europe may limit its presence there.