Wait, what? Mercedes-AMG is cooking up a next-generation V8 engine

“Mercedes-AMG plans to outgrow the performance market,” explains… Mercedes-AMG. 

This will apparently involve ‘heavily refreshing’ its entire model line-up from next year, and ‘strategically evolving its portfolio’. Translated from NonMarketingSpeak into PetrolheadSpeak, that means: another V8 is on its way.

And this being 2025 means that eight-cylinder is bringing a few friends along for a ride. Because AMG says that "strategic evolution of its portfolio will include a next-generation, high-tech electrified V8”. That’s it. That’s all we’ve got to go on.

‘Electrified’. We don’t yet know whether AMG’s next-gen V8 will be of the plug-in hybrid variety, or a self-charging hybrid unit, and whether it’s all-new, or a development of the current hybrid V8.

That engine, currently doing service in the fastest versions of the AMG GT and SL, marries the 4.0-litre biturbo unit to an electric motor and a battery. It produces a heady 805bhp. That is a lot of power.

Speaking of which, AMG also confirmed “dedicated high-performance electric models based on AMG.EA”, the latter its bespoke electric platform for high-performance and much power.

Mercedes also reconfirmed what we already knew about the G-Class: that a smaller version is being prepared. Back in 2023, Mercedes boss Ola Källenius said this Little G “will be capable”, and “instantly recognisable”, and… yeah, we’re still waiting for a beefed up Jimny lookalike. Hurry up, Merc.

In news that mirrors Audi’s recent burst of sensibleness, Mercedes also said it will apply a “coherent, status-oriented design” across its entire portfolio of cars, so that customers simply choose a model, and then what powers it, be it petrol or electricity.

Finally, we’ll see a new fully electric E-Class. A new CLA available as a BEV or hybrid 4cyl. And, “in selected markets, 12-cylinder engines will continue to be offered”.