Caught in the Crosshairs: Loud Cars Get the Shot as Noise Regulations Drop  

The EU is gearing up to turn the volume way down on performance cars. Come 1 July 2026, engines must stay under 68 dB—no exceptions. That’s why the Honda Civic Type R tapped out of Europe early. And now Mercedes-AMG is preparing to cut its loudest beasts from the lineup. But here’s the twist: it’s NOT the car you think is getting silenced. 

Instead of dumping legends like the G63 AMG or the growling V8 GT lineup, Mercedes is allegedly choosing this moment to ditch the GLA 35, C 43, GLC 43, C63 S E Performance, and GLC 63 S E Performance. Odd twist? The GLA 45 S sticks around—same with the GT 43 coupe and SL 43. 

And yeah, maybe these cars technically break the EU’s over-the-top noise rules, but come on—the timing is almost too perfect. It lets Mercedes cut these models loose without admitting that chopping the cylinders on its angriest C-Class and SUV was a massive own goal. 

Why Mercedes-AMG Is Phasing Out Its 43-Series Models 

Mercedes-AMG just made a bold—but questionable—move. In a bid to please the eco-critics, it tossed the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 out of the C-Class. Why? In my opinion, AMG had two goals.

First: the Mercedes-AMG M139 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder is an absolute beast. Packing 235 hp per liter in the C63, it’s a jaw-dropping piece of engineering that demands respect.

Second—but here’s where AMG may have overplayed its hand—they tried to sell this thing with a slice of Formula 1 magic. Instead of waiting for exhaust gases to spin the turbo, an electric motor takes over, wiping out turbo lag. Add another electric motor on the rear axle, and you’re looking at 670 hp and 725 lb-ft. That’s a monster leap from the 469 hp and 479 lb-ft of the old 4.0 V8.

But AMG tripped up in two major ways. First, the numbers are brutal. The 2021 C63 V8 weighed 3,874 lbs—right in BMW M3 territory. The new hybridized beast? A staggering 4,817 lbs. Nearly 1,000 lbs heavier. And yep… you feel every pound when you drive it.

The second critical mistake? You can’t put a number on it. Some cars sell because they’re just good at being practical—think Toyota Corolla Cross. Not thrilling, but it gets four people and their stuff from A to B without complaint. A C63, though? That’s an emotional purchase, and sound is everything. 

The new C63 could have been better, but it now rumbles like a roided-up hot hatch—and that just doesn’t fly in this segment. Sure, it’s fine for the smaller classes, where the GLA 45 and A 45 will keep roaring. But when you’re dropping $100,000, you deserve the deep, intoxicating burble of a V8 right under your foot.