Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E-Performance - Excess Performance
Quick is not fast enough, says Mercedes-AMG and adds a hybrid version of the GT with an extra kick. The balance between extremely sporty and comfortable is achieved here. Moreover, the Coupe in this hybrid configuration is quite unique. But: too expensive, too heavy, too impractical.
It's not as if the eight-cylinder base versions of AMG GT were a weak traffic participant with their 430 kW/585 PS. But that's not enough anymore, especially since car manufacturers are setting increasingly crazy bolides on the road with four-digit PS values. Why not make the best of both worlds for the transition?
The recipe is already known, even at Mercedes. Combine powerful and sound-intensive combustion engines - preferably eight cylinders - with torque-strong electric motors. There is already a four-seater AMG GT and an S-Class - both with the label 63. And now, of course, in the classic Coupe as well.
So there are now 600 kW/816 PS under the well-shaped hood with the distinctive Powerdomes. This monster power comes from the 150 kW/204 PS strong electric motor with a two-speed transmission at the rear axle, as well as the 4.0-liter V8 (450 kW/612 PS) in front, resulting in the aforementioned performance.
Too much of a good thing?
We were able to test the powertrain for the first time and asked ourselves if the power wasn't too much for everyday use. But it becomes clear after just a few meters that the Powerblock is more relaxed than stressful.
The possibility of driving electrically is here more of theoretical nature (13 kilometers). It's all about reducing CO2 emissions on paper. So the weighed WLTP consumption with the corresponding electric driving components is at 8.2 liters of Super gasoline. Driving hybrid, which usually happens due to the meager battery capacity of only 6.1 kWh, is estimated by Mercedes at something over 12 liters. If you want fun, 20 liters are easily manageable.
Once you've settled behind the steering wheel, your fingers are already reaching for the drive mode switch. We prefer a moderate suspension setup in combination with a dynamic powertrain configuration for public roads. In this case, the eight-cylinder engine quickly comes in to support its cylinder count with a loud bang. And the mouth corners remain wide open.
But it goes even further. If you just move the gas pedal a few millimeters towards the floor and the mighty GT accelerates powerfully. It doesn't even have to be full load, the sovereignty at half gas is even more spectacular. The electric motor should play a decisive role here. Spectacular is also the moment when you find out that there's still more going on during kickdown downshifting (2.8 seconds to 100 km/h).
Not a pure racer
Despite the long torque - 1420 Newtonmeters system torque - the two-tonner is not a pure racer. The AMG team has given it all the ingredients to get around corners quickly. To be honest, the performance level is too high to legally explore the limits on the road. But the series-standard rear axle steering and an also optional active hydraulic anti-roll bar make the driving behavior quite neutral and allow for wild cornering speeds. And they hide the weight.
On the other hand, the heavyweight also has a gentle side. The engineers at AMG have replaced the inefficient converter of the seven-speed automatic transmission with a multi-plate clutch. But since the E-unit is still in the system, starting is never a clumsy affair.
Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E-Performance - technical data
Sporty chair, in fact, manages to provide sufficient lateral support in quickly driven curves while still being comfortable. Therefore, the GT is indeed suitable for vacation driving. It is not excessively loud and wild, however, as Mercedes expands the AMG-GT portfolio towards track performance. For now, the Germans have only allowed a ride in the version with a racing flag-adorned model nameplate. Racing legend Bernd Schneider has chased the aerodynamically optimized GT around the test track in Immendingen, where Mercedes operates a large development center. The one named GT Pro sounds off with 450 kW/612 PS under the hood and boasts a claimed acceleration time of 10.9 seconds to reach 200 km/h. The top speed, incidentally, is over 300 km/h for both the hybrid and the Pro versions.
Whether the Pro turns out to be as everyday practical remains to be seen. On the track, where we were only driving at high RPMs, the soundscape is certainly impressively intense. Intense are many things about the AMG-GT variants, including the price. Starting at €211,237, one can get the Hybrid. The Pro prices are still silent. An affordable pleasure it will not be.
Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E-Performance - technical specifications
- Two-seater sports coupe
- Length: 4.72 meters, width: 1.98 meters, height: 1.35 meters, wheelbase: 2.70 meters
- 4.0-liter V8 gasoline engine with twin turbocharging, 450 kW/612 PS, electric motor: 150 kW/204 PS, system power: 600 kW/816 PS, maximum system torque: 1430 Nm, nine-speed automatic (twin clutch transmission), all-wheel drive
- 0-100 km/h: 2.8 s, top speed: 320 km/h
- Fuel consumption (hybrid): 12.3 l/100 km (WLTP), fuel consumption (PHEV lap): 8.2 l/100 km (WLTP), electric consumption: 12.6 kWh/100 km,
- Prices: from €211,237
Given the context, here are two sentences that contain the words 'Car', 'Mercedes AMG', and 'sports wagon':
Despite the lack of a sports wagon variant in their lineup, Mercedes-AMG continues to push the boundaries of performance with their Mercedes AMG GT models. If Mercedes-AMG ever decided to develop a high-performance sports wagon, it would certainly be an exciting addition to their lineup, combining the practicality of a wagon with the power and handling of an AMG GT.
