New Mercedes-AMG C53 Hides Its Six-Cylinder Engine 

Our long national nightmare is over: The four-cylinder Mercedes-AMG C63 is dead. Mercedes will replace the sports sedan and its unloved hybrid powertrain with a new C53 packing a six-cylinder engine. New spy photos provide a glimpse of the cabin, while camouflage hides the car’s finer styling details on the front and rear fascias.

Despite the coverings, the photos, shared with Motor1 by @skyler_wu, show the car’s Panamericana grille, a wide lower grille opening, and large intakes pushed to the outer corners of the bumper. We expect the car to have updated lights, front and rear.

The tires are staggered, measuring 265/35 and 275/35 on the front and rear, respectively. They wrap around 20-inch rims.

Photo by: @skyler_wu / Instagram

Photo by: @skyler_wu / Instagram

A photo of the interior doesn’t reveal any significant changes to the Mercedes sedan. The large screen below the three central vents remains. The steering wheel is covered, so it might feature a unique design on the model.

The C53 will feature the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine that powers the CLE 53. The M256M engine makes 443 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque in the coupe, but it’s unclear if it will produce the same amount in the sedan.

Even with an increase in power, the C53 won’t produce anywhere near as much as the outgoing C63. Its four-cylinder hybrid system made 671 hp and 752 lb-ft. While the C53 will be down on power, it will be lighter, too, which should enhance the driving experience.

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Source: @skyler_wu / Instagram

Motor1’s Take: The Mercedes-AMG C53 that’s set to replace the C63 won’t look much different on the outside, but under the hood, the automaker is swapping out the four-cylinder hybrid for the six-cylinder from the CLE. Expect a modest design refresh when the new model debuts in the second half of the year.