Mercedes-AMG May Be Experiencing a Windows Vista-like Situation with These Four-Cylinder Hybrids.

      Mercedes-AMG / Microsoft (edited by the author)

      

      

      

      

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      Multi-billion-dollar companies often become so engrossed in innovation that they prioritize what they could achieve over what they actually should. While the resulting products can be technologically impressive, their usability often suffers. A notable example is Windows Vista—the visually appealing operating system from 2007 that users largely disliked. More recently, the four-cylinder plug-in hybrid Mercedes-AMG models have departed from the traditional twin-turbo V8s that fans loved.

      Similar to Windows Vista, the concept behind Mercedes-AMG’s small-displacement PHEVs is strong. Microsoft touted improved security and search capabilities for its OS; Mercedes, in turn, boasted about the hybrid's 671 horsepower, including electric turbo anti-lag and supercar-like acceleration times. However, just as Vista frustrated users with its tendency to crash on older hardware, drivers found that the power of an electrified AMG loses its appeal if it doesn’t produce a satisfying sound.

      Windows XP, Vista's predecessor, had begun to show its age before the new version’s release, but like the classic V8, it was functional—and users were generally equipped to identify and resolve its rare issues.

      Do you see the connection? Microsoft / Mercedes-AMG

      Mercedes is reportedly recognizing this shift and is moving away from four-cylinder engines to focus on producing more inline-sixes and V8s. According to a source cited by Autocar, a representative from Mercedes stated, “Technically, the four-cylinder is one of the most advanced drivetrains available in a production car and performs impressively. However, it failed to connect with our traditional customer base. We’ve come to acknowledge that.”

      This suggests that, like Vista, the four-cylinder AMG C63 and GLC63 had a brief lifespan. They were launched just three years ago in 2022, an even shorter run than Vista, which had mainstream support until 2012.

      However, Microsoft’s mistake was far-reaching. Estimates indicate that around 330 million users endured the frustrations of Vista, while significantly fewer than 100,000 experienced the AMGs that sound like vacuum cleaners.

      AMG chief Michael Schiebe mentioned to Car Magazine in April, “We advanced quickly with this technology, but we should have better communicated that technology to our salesforce and customers. We will continue to improve that. There's a German saying: ‘You never have a second chance at a first impression.’ Perhaps we didn't make the best first impression, but I believe that once people have the chance to experience it, they will be convinced by the technology.”

      The list of grievances regarding Vista is extensive, deserving a full Wikipedia page. Similarly, the main complaint about the electrified four-cylinder engines is consistent: they sound poor.

      This poses a significant issue, given the customer demographic they're targeting. Mercedes was overly confident that the transition from twin-turbo V8s to plug-in hybrid four-cylinders would be well-accepted, a belief that seems rather outlandish in hindsight.

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