AMG’s first PHEV is a goddamn thing.
Mercedes-AMG
Mercedes-AMG is finally showing its first plug-in hybrid, and it’s a doozy. The new GT63 SE Performance brings Formula 1 technology to the road by fusing AMG’s existing twin-turbo V8 with an electric motor and an advanced battery pack, all of which plug into the existing one GT 4-door coupe Body. The result is the most powerful production vehicle from AMG of all time and a sign of the brand’s future.
The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 develops the same 630 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque as the existing GT63 S, but now has an integrated 48-volt starter-generator system. On the rear axle sits a single electric motor with 201 hp, 236 lb-ft, which has its own two-speed transmission; Since it works directly on the rear axle, it ensures faster reactions and acceleration. There is an electronically controlled limited-slip differential for better grip and power delivery when cornering, and the electrical power can be directed to the front wheels if required. AMG also revised the standard air suspension and the stability control system of the GT.
There’s a lot going on under the skin.
Mercedes-AMG
The lightweight 6.1 kWh lithium-ion battery sits right above the EV motor, and the development of the battery was influenced by the one used in Mercedes F1 cars – the AMG team in Affalterbach, Germany worked closely with that F1 engine shop together in the UK on engineering the system. The 400-volt battery weighs only 196 pounds and has twice the power density of conventional batteries thanks to the world’s first direct cooling system that always keeps the battery at the optimal operating temperature.
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All of this adds up to a whopping 831 horsepower and 1,033 lb-ft total output, with Mercedes saying the GT63 PHEV can do 60 mph in 2.9 seconds, 125 mph in less than 10 seconds, and a top speed of 196 miles per hour will reach. Where the GT63 SE lacks performance is the electric range. AMG says it’ll only go about seven miles on electricity alone, but that’s on purpose. The drivetrain was designed for “rapid power development” instead of long range, so performance is the real goal here. It reaches 80 mph with electric drive, and there’s an AMG-specific sound that plays outside the car at speeds up to 30 mph and fades out when the car hits 50 mph. The charging port is on the rear bumper, and while AMG does not provide charging specifications, it uses a 3.7kW on-board charger.
The charging port is located on the rear bumper.
Mercedes-AMG
There are a total of seven driving modes, with the new electric mode adding Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus, Race, Slippery (for wet conditions) and the configurable Individual mode. In EV mode, thanks to the mechanical connection of the electric motor to the drive train, all-wheel drive is always available, and when the battery is empty, the car automatically switches to Comfort mode. In Comfort, the car uses electric driving when it is cheapest, for example at low speeds in the city. Immerse yourself in the Sport and Race modes and the V8 wakes up, with the electric motor providing a boost in performance. The car normally starts up silently in electric mode, but a special “AMG-typical” sound is played over the loudspeakers in the interior to signal the driver that the car is ready.
The GT63 SE Performance has four levels of regenerative braking, which are controlled via a button on the steering wheel, whereby the lowest level of regeneration is practically imperceptible to the driver, while the highest level enables driving with a pedal like a fully-fledged electric vehicle. When the car is in race driving mode, the regeneration system is automatically set to level 1, which offers the “most reproducible vehicle behavior” on the track. The E Performance is also equipped as standard with massive carbon-ceramic brakes with 17-inch discs and six-piston brake calipers at the front and 15-inch discs and single-piston brake calipers at the rear.
The interior is basically identical to the regular GT 4-door.
Mercedes-AMG
We have seen them before updated six-cylinder GT 4-door models Earlier this year, and the V8 PHEV stays close to the same formula. The front air intakes are bigger and have new wings, there are a number of new paint jobs including four matte finishes, and Mercedes has added more exterior appearance packages. Hybrid-specific details are limited to fluted exhaust tips and red badges. The E Performance also has a number of unique information pages in the MBUX infotainment system, a new steering wheel design and more color and equipment options for the interior.
Mercedes doesn’t say anything about how much the GT63 SE Performance will cost, but with the regular GT63 S starting at $ 162,950, don’t be surprised if the PHEV crosses the $ 200,000 mark. Full US specs will be announced closer to the 2023 model year sales date for the E Performance.
Mercedes-AMG GT63 SE Performance is a powerful plug-in hybrid
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