--- title: "Mercedes-AMG Will Get Its V8s Back This Year" date: "2026-05-06" modified: "2026-05-06" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/mercedes-amg-will-get-its-v8s-back-this-year" categories: - "Mercedes-Benz News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "Coupe" - "luxury" - "Mercedes-AMG" - "Mercedes-Benz" - "sedan" - "sports car" --- # Mercedes-AMG Will Get Its V8s Back This Year ![Mercedes AMG C63 S Coupe, 2018, V8 engine bay exposed]() *\Mercedes-Benz\* [Mercedes]()-AMG's long-awaited V8 renaissance is taking shape, and not merely in the form of rumors anymore. In fact, the performance brand's boss says we'll see some actual products bearing the engines before 2026 draws to a close. "At the end of the year, you'll see the V8 coming back to AMG," AMG CEO Michael Scheibe told *[Car Magazine]()*. "We will launch it again with SUVs, but other cars will get it too." Schiebe also said that AMG is "doubling down on our internal combustion engine cars again, but at the same time we’ll put equal emphasis on our great EV line-up," and that the goal is to be, well, "more AMG than ever before." This will they/won't they saga involving larger gas-burning engines within Mercedes' performance arm has been raging for quite some time, as fans know. The last nail in the coffin, for many, seemed to be [the four-cylinder C63 AMG](), which infamously gave up its trusty 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 for half the displacement and electric assistance. It still made gobs of power, of course, but a certain spirit was lost. ![]() *The Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance traded the prior-gen's V8 for a boosted and electrified inline-four. *Jerry Perez** Oh—and it was *heavy*. Remarking on the weight penalty of a sophisticated hybrid powertrain, Scheibe said, "If you want to have a lightweight car, sometimes it’s best to have a V8-only car." No disagreement here, boss. The C63's plug-in hybrid powertrain is being put out to pasture, to be replaced by a straight-six like the one in the new GLC53. As for the V8, it's expected to be derived from the M177 Evo engine in [the new S-Class](), which uses a flat-plane crank. Scheibe says we'll see it first in SUVs and, considering the normie GLE and GLS are also beneficiaries of that engineering, their AMG cousins seem like obvious landing spots. ![]() *An in-depth look at the new M177 Evo V8. *Mercedes-Benz** After that will come the coupes and sedans, and the company has been dropping some hints on that front, as well. Mercedes' U.S. CEO Adam Chamberlain laid the groundwork for a V8-powered CLE to *[Edmunds]()* just weeks ago. Despite the disdain many have for AMG's plug-in hybrid offerings, they won't be disappearing entirely. Scheibe said that the GLE53 and E53 in particular will stick around in markets with strict emissions requirements, where they make sense. And there will eventually be an all-electric AMG GT four-door, hopefully channeling the stunning design of the orange [GT-XX concept]() from last year. However you prefer to go fast, it seems AMG intends to have a product for you. *Got a tip? Reach out to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()