AMG GT 63 S E Performance

Segment
Hatchback

As the auto industry transitions to EVs, many automakers have already committed to switching to electric cars only within the next few years. Mercedes will become an electric-only brand by 2030 and has already stopped developing new combustion engines to pour more resources in preparation for the inevitable electric era. This doesn't mean the death of AMG's hallowed V8 engine is imminent, however.

Speaking with Road and Track, Mercedes-AMG boss Philipp Schiemer is confident that V8s won't be going anywhere for a very long time. "I think there will be a future, yes," said Schiemer. "I think for the next ten years we will see the V8s, for sure. We have a lot of customers who love their cars and I still think that we will see those people buying the [V8] cars for a long time."

This is good news for fans of Mercedes-AMG's twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 that powers cars like the AMG GT and G63 G-Class. His comments suggest Mercedes-AMG will keep the V8 alive for as long as it legally can before combustion car sales are banned in Europe in 2035. "We have really a very high demand all over the world," he added.

Mercedes may no longer be developing new combustion powertrains, but AMG's V8 powerplant continues to evolve. Case in point: the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S e-Performance, which combines AMG's V8 with an electric motor producing a combined 843 hp and 1,034 lb-ft. The result is the most powerful AMG production car ever.

Hybrid technology will help keep AMG's V8 alive and unlock previously unobtainable performance. "You have this extra power, like low-end torque which is usually more of an issue for a combustion engine. We get that instant torque, whereas, you know, on a German Autobahn this is where the V-8 engine really kicks in."

But the AMG boss hinted the best is still to come as engineers are finding new ways to utilize the technology and extract more performance. "Now having gone through all this we know there's so much more that we can do with a powertrain layout like this," said Schiemer. At the same time, AMG is also preparing to launch its first dedicated EV, the AMG EQS 53, which combines two electric motors to generate a combined 751 hp and 752 lb-ft.