Last year, Mercedes-Benz announced that it was going all-in on straight-sixes, launching the M256 family of 3.0-liter gas- and diesel-powered motors. AMG has plans for this engine too. AMG boss Tobias Moers confirmed to Automotive News that it's developing a 400-plus-hp version of this engine for a version of the new CLS, the CLS53.

Moers also hinted that the E-Class coupe and cabriolet will also eventually get this engine in lieu of the 4.0-liter V8 offered in the AMG E63 sedan and wagon. Moers said this engine will offer horsepower "for sure in the 400s," and Automotive News previously reported that it'd make 430 hp.

Engines in the M256 family each get an electronic turbocharger in addition to a traditional, exhaust-driven unit, and a "mild hybrid" system with a 48-volt motor/generator mounted to the crankshaft. Mercedes promises this engine will provide V8-level power and torque, with all the silky smooth goodness you expect from an inline-six.

This new family of inline-sixes made their debut in the S-Class, which was facelifted for the 2018 model year. Interestingly, these inline-sixes aren't offered in US-market S-Classes, at least not initially. Instead, we get the S450, which is powered by Merc's now-familiar 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6.

In a July interview with Autoweek, Mercedes R&D boss Ola Källenius said this inline-six will come to the US, but not in the S-Class.

Moers promised that he'd have more news to share on AMG's new 53 line to share at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Perhaps we'll see the CLS53 make its debut then.

This story was originally published on August 8th 2017, and has been updated with new information confirmed by AMG boss Tobias Moers.



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