Mercedes-AMG has unveiled the AMG GT XX, a jaw-dropping 1,340-horsepower electric super sedan concept that blends futuristic tech with nostalgic flair. Riding on the new AMG.EA platform, the GT XX features three axial flux motors and a high-performance battery, delivering hyper car-level performance and a drag coefficient of just 0.198. But even as AMG leans into electrification, the roar of a combustion V-8 isn’t fading into history just yet.
In fact, AMG is developing a brand-new V-8 engine, set to debut in late 2027. And according to CEO Michael Schiebe, it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
“Since we are just in the development of a new V-8, there is not a natural end date that we have defined,” Schiebe told Motor1. “We keep on going as long as we see that there is customer demand… especially in the US, where there are still customers that just want the V-8, a pure V-8.”
This commitment is more than symbolic. For decades, AMG’s V-8s have defined the brand’s identity, from the thunderous 6.2-liter M156 to the current 4.0-liter twin-turbo “hot vee.” These engines weren’t just about power; they were about presence, drama, and a visceral connection between car and driver.
That connection was tested when AMG downsized the C63 to a four-cylinder hybrid. Despite impressive performance, many enthusiasts felt the soul had been stripped away. Sales reportedly suffered, and the backlash was loud enough that AMG is now planning to bring the V-8 back to the C63 as early as 2026.
The new engine is rumored to feature a flat-plane crankshaft, a departure from AMG’s traditional cross-plane design. This could result in a higher-revving engine with a sharper throttle response and a more exotic exhaust note, think Ferrari rather than muscle car.
Still, AMG isn’t ignoring the regulatory landscape. Europe’s 2035 ban on CO₂-emitting new cars looms large, but Schiebe remains pragmatic.
“There is, at the moment, a natural ending in Europe,” he acknowledged. “In the US, in the overseas market… I’m pretty confident that we will carry them a couple of years, beginning of the 2030s, middle of the 2030s.”
To future-proof the engine, AMG is ensuring it complies with EU 7 emissions standards, allowing it to be sold in multiple markets.
“It wouldn’t make any sense to just develop it for the US… of course, it has to comply with EU 7, Schiebe added.
The new V-8 will also benefit from AMG’s Formula 1 expertise, with engineers from its High Performance Powertrains division contributing to the development of both combustion and electric systems. This cross-pollination of racing tech ensures that AMG’s future engines, whether electric or not will remain cutting-edge.
Ultimately, AMG’s strategy is clear: preserve the emotional thrill of driving while embracing the demands of a changing world. Whether it’s the whisper of electrons or the growl of a V-8, AMG is making sure performance has a future and a soul.
