No V8 for SLK55 replacement

First drive: Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG

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There won't be a V8 crammed under the bonnet of the next-generation of Mercedes-AMG's baby roadster.

The head of the three-pointed star's high-performance division, Tobias Moers, confirmed to Australian media in Spain this week that it plans to debut its first V6-powered AMG model since the C32 was produced in 2002 in the replacement for the SLK55, which is expected to be revealed at the 2016 Detroit motor show in January and adopt the SLC moniker in line with Mercedes' new naming strategy.

Moers was hesitant to reveal exact details, but conceded the car will be offered in both AMG Sport and as a dedicated AMG model with differing tunes of the company's 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6.

He admitted the new AMG-specific version will offer more power than the 270kW generated in the SLC450 AMG Sport but it is unlikely to match the 310kW produced by the naturally-aspirated 5.5-litre V8 in the current car.

"No, let's wait and see," he responded when asked directly if it would feature a V8 engine.

"It's not a dedicated engine [like other AMG models], but it's more part of the AMG family than the Sport models are today so yes we are going to change something.

"There is no need [for more power than current SLK55]. It's all about providing value – we will move down with the price but offer more value than ever before," he added, also promising the car will be the "sportiest that car has ever been in terms of driving dynamics."

"It's close and it's a nice car…"