M139 engine production to sunset?

AMG Is Ditching Its Hated Four-Cylinder C63 For Something Much Better | Carscoops

A new report says buyer apathy and the cost of meeting new emissions regulations are the powerful yet soulless engine's undoing

www.carscoops.com

Scroll down to about the 6th paragraph for this interesting Lotus tidbit:
"The report suggest other non-hybrid M139 models such as the 416 hp (420 PS) C43 and 375 hp (380 PS) SL 43 would need to find alternative forms of propulsion. As would the Lotus Emira that uses AMG’s mill, though the British brand is already scouting for a V8 engine to drop in that."

 

[PatrickJS]

Well I didnt expect them ditching the i4 too

 

[Beachbum]

I'm guessing Lotus didnt get much say in the matter, Mercedes just told them how it was
Also, whats hated about the engine, I thought it was considered at worst "OK"

 

[Teshoo Lama]

Well, that was unexpected!

How ironic, that after all the talk of V6 production ending, the Emira could now be V6 only until they can find a V8 solution. As a small manufacturer, Lotus have until 2030 to comply with Euro 7, and Toyota will likely be far more amenable than AMG to supplying an engine that's ended series production.

 

[Andy H]

This is a surprise. I knew about all the hate for the C63 hybrid unit but I thought the base M139 was considered to be a marvel of engineering? I wonder what this will mean in the long term for parts availability on I4 units...

 

[RoryBellows]

The article is really about the engine being sucky for the C63, which it is. I don't think there's much hate for it in the non-hybrid cars more suited for a 4cyl. MB will still have to service these things for years after they stop making them so there will be parts for awhile.

 

[Suprluminal]

I understand the M139 PHEV for bigger cars, but the non PHEV engines made a lot of sense for the A45s (I think also the CLA?) it doesn’t make sense to stop them.

 

[F1 SML8R]

"The report suggest other non-hybrid M139 models such as the 416 hp (420 PS) C43 and 375 hp (380 PS) SL 43 would need to find alternative forms of propulsion. As would the Lotus Emira that uses AMG’s mill, though the British brand is already scouting for a V8 engine to drop in that."

This might be more about the author jumping to a conclusion than a factual position from MB. The article is really about the hybrid version of this engine which we don't have.

Sounds like author speculation to me. Until MB AMG come out and say the M139 (non-hybrid, ICE only iteration) is dead, I'm going with it will still be around. As an FYI, the CLA AMG 45, 2025 MY and several other current MB cars still use the identical 416 bhp ICE only M139. So, not buying its extinction at this point.