An All-New Mercedes-AMG Engine Could Sit Bizarrely Between The 43 And 63

Take a seat, because Mercedes’ ranges are about to get even more complicated. The long-since-confirmed twin-turbo straight-six is about to mix things up a bit (more).

If the rumours are true, the new inline engine will spawn an AMG variant dubbed the ‘53’, opening the door for 43, 53 and 63 models under the AMG umbrella. Could it be a replacement, you ask? With cars like the SLC43, C43 and E43 only having been launched about five minutes ago (alright; 2016), the ranges simply aren’t ready for a change, and won’t be until at least the 2020 model year.

The new 3.0-litre unit, which has one traditional turbocharger and one electric one in conjunction with a 48-volt electrical system and a mild hybrid setup, could split the 43 and 63 models as a halfway-house, making three distinct AMG versions of most of Mercedes’ models, each using a different engine. With the best will in the world that’s really bizarre, but you’d imagine Mercedes will have done the market research…

Or, if the new block is ultimately a replacement for the V6, it will filter into ranges as and when they are scheduled for an update, meaning that some AMG ranges will most likely still use the Vee, badged as a ‘43’, when others have switched to the straight engine. Only the straight-six will use the ‘53’ stamp, so you could have a C53 and an E43 for sale at the same time, and the former could be the faster.

It’s said that the two will have significantly different outputs, with a suggested figure of 430bhp beating the AMG E43’s V6 by a handsome 34bhp – and the AMG C43’s by an eye-opening 68bhp. Whether this would simply be to spice-up the current entry-level AMGs or to slot into new models between the 43s and the full-fat, 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 cars badged 63 is as yet unknown.

Even more confusingly, the US seems to be getting the 2018 S-Class with the V6, while other markets get the same car with the straight-six. We’ll ask Mercedes why that is. In any case, we’re definitely looking forward to getting some clarification on how the new engine will fit in.

Via: Automotive News