Overview
- CEO Michael Schiebe says the four-cylinder M139 will be dropped and a pure 3.0-liter turbo inline-six from the CLE 53 will power a new C 53, without a plug-in hybrid system.
- Reporters expect a C 53 reveal in the second half of 2026, with development already underway as prototype wagons have been spotted testing.
- Outputs are expected to mirror the CLE 53’s roughly 443 hp and 560 Nm, trading headline power for lower weight and improved driving feel versus the heavy C 63 PHEV.
- Coverage diverges on positioning: some outlets say the C 53 replaces the C 63, while others report it supersedes the current C 43, leaving final badging unresolved.
- AMG confirms a Euro 7–compliant 4.0-liter V8 exists for future series, and outlets suggest it could enable a V8 return in a next C 63, though this has not been confirmed.