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Mercedes says it's just a matter of time before customers adapt to new AMG engines

Mercedes-Benz compares the evolution of its AMG engines to the transition from mobile phones to smartphones. According to the brand, car enthusiasts will eventually get used to these technological changes, despite initial reluctance.

The transition to more compact engines at AMG

Although AMG has been marketing four-cylinder cars for several years, such as the CLA 45 and GLA 45 models, many purists do not consider these vehicles to be true AMGs due to their 2.0-liter engines.

The recent C63 and GLC63, now equipped with four-cylinder engines paired with a powerful plug-in hybrid configuration, have also raised reservations among enthusiasts, recalling the initial reactions to smartphones without a physical keyboard.

A bold comparison with the evolution of smartphones

Jaime Cohen, head of Mercedes-Benz Australia, drew parallels between the growing acceptance of four-cylinder plug-in hybrids and the shift from push-button phones to touchscreen smartphones.

According to Cohen:

  • People initially resisted smartphones, then eventually embraced the new technology
  • The new Mercedes AMG engines will follow the same acceptance pattern
  • This transition requires time, persuasion and experience.
  • The advantages of the new AMG engines

    The GLC 63, the second AMG model to switch from the V8 to a four-cylinder plug-in hybrid drive system after the C 63 sedan, features:

  • A combined power of 500 kW and a torque of 1020 Nm
  • Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds (0.5 seconds faster than its predecessor)
  • Average consumption reduced from 12.2 l/100 km to 7.3 l/100 km
  • A range of 14 km in all-electric mode
  • The challenges of accepting new technologies

    Cohen stresses that the evolution of the automotive market is inevitable, citing the example of automatic transmissions that have gradually supplanted manuals. He says early adopters will play a crucial role in the acceptance of the new Mercedes AMG engines, just as they did in the transition from touch-tone phones to smartphones.

    AMG's vision for the future

    AMG CEO Michael Schiebe defends the adoption of an electrified four-cylinder propulsion system to replace the old V8. He acknowledges that:

  • Some customers are slow to get excited about this technology
  • It is important to keep an open mind about new technologies
  • Performance and driving experience remain at the heart of AMG's concerns
  • The new Mercedes AMG engines represent a significant change in the brand's philosophy. While some purists may miss the distinctive sound and character of the V8s, Mercedes-Benz is confident that the performance, efficiency and driving experience offered by these new engines will eventually win over fans of the brand. Time will tell whether this technological transition will be as successful as that of smartphones.