Back in black?

‘AMG is BACK!!!’ screamed the headlines across social media. Yes, just ahead of the Madrid Grand Prix, AMG announced the return of the V8. Well it didn’t actually, it announced the CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung and since it has a V8 in it everyone jumped to the obvious conclusion.

It’s a conclusion that’s probably right, because it won’t have escaped your notice that AMG has been in a bit of a pickle the last few years and a 637bhp (the 646 is metric PS horsepower) twin turbo V8 coupe is just the thing to get you out of a tight spot. We forgave the A45 its four cylinder because that’s what you put in a hot hatch, but just because economies of scale and practicalities of cost suggest it should be used in a C63, doesn’t mean it’s the right option.

Have you seen a single hybrid C63 on the road? It’s the car I keep a constant eye out for, but I sincerely believe I’m more likely to spot a McLaren Artura. And where’s the E63? That was last seen as a Final Edition in 2023, with news stories confidently predicting its reappearance (as a six cylinder hybrid) in 2024. These are the disappeared.