Mercedes-Benz and V8 engines used to go hand in hand. The brand may have dabbled with hybrid four-cylinders, but the eight-cylinder isn’t dead just yet. A recent Instagram reel by @investmentvehicles shows a V8-powered facelifted Mercedes-Benz CLE test car roaming public roads, but its soundtrack couldn’t be further from the thunderous AMG we hoped for. In fact, we think the CLE 53 AMG might sound better in comparison, and it seems the internet agrees.
A V8 Lives On, Just a Lot Quieter
Mercedes-Benz and V8 engines used to go hand in hand. The brand may have dabbled with hybrid four-cylinders, but the eight-cylinder isn’t dead just yet. A recent Instagram reel by @investmentvehicles shows a V8-powered facelifted Mercedes-Benz CLE test car roaming public roads, but its soundtrack couldn’t be further from the thunderous AMG we hoped for. In fact, we think the CLE 53 AMG might sound better in comparison, and it seems the internet agrees.
The headline here is worth celebrating. The CLE is getting a V8, and in an era where downsizing and emissions targets dominate engineering decisions, that alone is big news. Mercedes has also confirmed that a new-generation AMG V8 is planned for 2027, further hinting that the big engine won't remain a relic just yet. And rumors surrounding the V8-powered CLE have been put to rest – the footage proves the car exists, and it's expected to have 585 hp. The excitement only comes to a halt when your ears tune in. Instead of a rowdy rumble, you get something closer to a vacuum.
Where Did the Glorious AMG V8 Growl Go?
Zac Palmer
This is the part that stings. The CLE prototype wafts past the camera with more tire hiss than exhaust note. Several factors likely contribute: turbocharging masks tone, modern AMGs are stuffed with mufflers to kill drone, and emissions hardware like particulate filters plus strict drive-by noise regulations choke character even further. That said, Merc's previous turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine sounded glorious, almost as good naturally aspirated 6.2-liter it replaced. But for some reason, the new one sounds far worse in comparison.
Sound Still Matters
Mercedes-Benz
A quiet V8 feels wrong, like fireworks without the bang. The current four-cylinder hybrid C 63 S E Performance is brutally quick and will probably out-accelerate its upcoming V8 variant, but spec sheets aren’t the reason people love eight cylinders. Enthusiasts crave the V8's sensory experience. It’s the reason people still love older AMGs. With luck, the production CLE gains a freer tailpipe and some theatre, or aftermarket exhausts will step in like they did for the BMW M5. The prototype shows that the V8 isn’t gone, but it’s not what we were hoping for. When a V8 AMG drives by, we shouldn’t have to lean in to hear it.
