Thank God, the 2026 Mercedes-AMG CLE 63 has a roaring V8

The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 in the upcoming CLE 63 delivers up to 600 horsepower

10/17 Update: Mercedes has begun peeling back the layers of camouflage from the 2026 AMG CLE 63 prototype, giving us the clearest possible look at what’s to come. Our spies caught not one, but three different cars in the wild – two coupes and a convertible with a classic cloth top. In addition to a ton of fresh spy photos, we’ve also shared new information. Scroll down for the latest updates as we piece together the puzzle of Mercedes’ next big AMG.

Photo Baldorf

The current Mercedes-AMG C63 S may have 671 horsepower and enough torque to theoretically tip the earth, but let’s not pretend that the switch from a V8 to a turbocharged four-cylinder plug-in hybrid didn’t piss some people off. Purists cry out. Apparently, AMG seems to have taken its cues from the upcoming CLE 63. This time, they’re not going to mess up and upset their fan base by downsizing the engine.

A few months ago our spy photographers captured the new CLE 63 , which will likely arrive in 2026 guise, doing what every true AMG should do – rage around the Nürburgring travel. At the time, we only had visual evidence. Well, things have changed. Several CLE 63 prototypes have now been photographed up close in Europe, and the noise doesn’t lie. There’s a distinct V8 roar coming from under the hood.

Read: Mercedes-AMG CLE 63 could have twin-turbo V8 Thrust

While the exact details of the V8 engine in these prototypes are unclear, it’s widely believed to be the latest version of the 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged engine the automaker has been using for years. If you’re familiar with this engine, the soundtrack alone will bring you back memories; it has the deep, unapologetic rumble that a four-cylinder C63 can only dream of.

The existing Mercedes-AMG SL 63 is also equipped with the same engine, producing 577 hp and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque. That may be significantly less than the C63’s 671 hp and 752 lb-ft (1,018 Nm), but it’s still plenty of power. While we’d like to see AMG engineers tune this engine used in the CLE 63 to over 600 horsepower, there’s no guarantee that will happen.

However, there are no visible charging ports on any of these prototypes, suggesting the V8-powered model may skip any serious hybrid power. Still, a mild-hybrid system is under consideration, which would improve efficiency without diluting the V8 experience.

Second 4-cylinder powertrain option?

There’s also speculation that the new CLE 63 could come with a second powertrain option, giving buyers who can’t quite decide between old-school muscle and cutting-edge technology a choice. This variant is rumored to be wearable Electronic performance badge, and could include a plug-in hybrid setup similar to that found in the C63 SE Performance.

In this model, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is paired with a rear electric motor, a 6.1-kilowatt-hour battery, and a fully variable all-wheel-drive system. When everything works together, this setup produces an incredible 671 hp (500 kW / 680 PS) and an incredible 752 lb-ft (1,018 Nm) of torque.

Such an option might sound like, strange For the purists – after all, who wants to trade the thrum of a V8 for the buzz and electric assistance of a four-cylinder? But for those willing to embrace a hybrid future, this setup will offer Jekyll and Hyde personalities. It’s a fascinating, albeit divisive, direction for AMG.

When will it arrive?

As for when we’ll actually see the new CLE 63 in V8 glory (and possibly its PHEV counterpart)? This remains a mystery. Mercedes has been playing it safe on this front, but we suspect the news will be revealed sometime in 2025. Until then, all we can do is keep an eye out for more details, or better yet, hear an even more glorious V8 growl from those prototypes.

Photo Baldorf