Latest news with #AMGGT63SEPerformance
Auto Express
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
This 804bhp Mercedes should be fun…but it isn't
Mercedes-AMG has rarely held back in the pursuit of power, and in its hybrid age none are more potent than the AMG GT 63 S E Performance. This is a wickedly fast car, and knocks on the door of hypercar-levels of straight-line speed. But the means by which the flagship GT's performance has been achieved results in a finished product that's hard to engage with, even if it is still mightily impressive. Advertisement - Article continues below Considering it would take half of the summary just to write out this car's name, it might not shock you that the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance Premium Plus is quite a lot to take in. Sitting at the top of the new AMG GT range, it integrates a range of Formula One-inspired technology with AMG's well proven twin-turbocharged V8, to create an 803bhp flagship that has high-end performance cars such as the Porsche 911 Turbo and Aston Martin Vantage in its crosshairs. AMG's GT sub-supercar has taken a few different forms over the generations, but the latest appears to be its most cunning, taking a direct line towards the Porsche 911 and its lucrative customer base. Yet while many might suggest AMG has been peeking inside the Porsche design studio with this latest generation's exterior styling, the two models couldn't be any further away from one another under the skin. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below View 5008 Fundamentally, a modern AMG GT is a relatively simple thing: the front/mid-mounted engine now has a nine-speed gearbox bolted directly to it – in contrast to the previous generation's transaxle arrangement – leaving enough space for a generous boot and two tiny, but still useful rear seats, just like a 911. Advertisement - Article continues below The GT 63 S E Performance, however, adds in a few extra elements, including an electrified rear axle that adds a 197bhp e-motor, two-speed transmission, limited-slip differential and 6.1kWh battery pack. Power can also be sent from the rear-mounted e-motor up to the front wheels to be truly variable in its four-driven wheels, and if desired the front axle can be locked out entirely in 'Drift' mode. When the various powertrain elements are considered as one, the GT is capable of producing that 804bhp figure alongside a colossal 1,420Nm of torque. With tremendous traction and the Launch Mode, it'll sprint from 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds and top out at 199mph. Impressive figures, yes, but especially so considering its 2,195kg kerbweight. To help keep that mass in check, Merc's carbon-ceramic brakes are standard-fit, sat behind 21-inch wheels and high performance Michelin rubber. There's also rear-wheel steering and a set of hydraulically cross-linked dampers that replace a normal car's anti-roll bars. All this content isn't cheap, at £186,290, but then it's a lot of car. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below With every trick in AMG's playbook in use, however, there remains a question mark over how many of these technical elements actively improve the driving experience, or just provide mechanical recourse. This is, after all, a Porsche 911-rivalling supercar that weighs more than a few luxury seven-seater SUVs. Proof will be in the driving, and in this regard the GT 63 S E Performance is both astonishing and disconcerting at the same time. Advertisement - Article continues below Unsurprisingly, the AMG's performance is totally off the scale. With the hybrid system's added power and torque, there is always considerably more performance available than any road-user could possibly need. The added torque of the e-motor is present almost all of the time, and feels every bit as fast as the on-paper figures would suggest. And you never need to worry about the battery running out of juice, because it'll never drop below 25 per cent. The ride and handling is also very impressive, with the complex suspension giving the car incredible poise and stability in the corners, without feeling too firm or harsh. This applies to all the damper modes, too, with even the most track-focused ones staying compliant enough to keep the vehicle feeling controlled. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below But those hoping for an engaging driving experience, rather than just an impressive one, might be a little disappointed, because some of these chassis systems also isolate you from the process of driving. The steering, while well weighted and accurate, is short on feel and the rear axle steering feels less subtly integrated than the systems used by Porsche or Lamborghini. The brakes, although monstrously powerful, also have little feel and the hybrid's input to the engine – for all its performance – isn't always consistent. The soundtrack is also disappointing, with an overly-augmented drone coming from the speakers masking the surprisingly subdued V8 engine noise, such are the emission and sound regulations of 2025. Advertisement - Article continues below The end result is the car never quite feels engaging. You prod it, push up to what you think are its limits but it gives nothing back. There's no doubting AMG's performance, grip or composure, but the inclination to want to explore this car's full potential just doesn't feel appropriate at road speeds, no matter how experienced you are as a driver. So what about the 'GT' bit, then? Well the GT 63 S E does serve this purpose well in many regards, referring back to the great ride quality, a nicely appointed cabin (although one we're not sure quite lives up to the price point) and those semi-usable rear seats. But there are issues here, too, not least the relatively poor refinement on account of considerable road roar and the fact the boot space is reduced due to the hybrid-system's battery pack sitting above the rear axle. The ability to creep out of the driveway on e-power is a boon, though, and we know this form of hybrid isn't really about all-electric range, so we won't mark it down on its tiny six-mile figure. As a technical exercise, the GT 63 S E Performance is quite an achievement, but we're not entirely sure the benefits of this hybrid system can justify the compromises in a subjective measure. It might sound like a motoring journalist cliche, but we're wanting for more feel, less weight and less complexity. But rival brands such as Porsche are finding more sophisticated and integrated ways of working in electrification on cars like its new 911 GTS, and with a new 911 Turbo just around the corner, we can't help but wonder if AMG's rival has picked a better pathway. Model: Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance Premium Plus Price: £186,290 Powertrain: 4.0-litre, V8 turbo petrol, plus 1x e-motor and 6.1kWh battery Power/torque: 803bhp/1,420Nm Transmission: 9-speed auto, all-wheel drive 0-62mph: 2.8 seconds Top speed: 199mph Economy/CO2: 26.7mpg/241g/km Size (L/W/H): 4,728/1,984/1,354mm On sale: Now Do you desire a V8 performance machine on your driveway? Visit our Find a Car service to configure your perfect Mercedes-AMG GT now ... Car Deal of the Day: 717bhp BMW M5 Touring super-estate on a tasty lease deal Car Deal of the Day: 717bhp BMW M5 Touring super-estate on a tasty lease deal The BMW M5 Touring is M car royalty, with a thoroughly impressive PHEV powertrain. It's our Deal of the Day for 29 June New Skoda Epiq vRS to headline brand's hot-SUV onslaught New Skoda Epiq vRS to headline brand's hot-SUV onslaught Every future Skoda will get the go-faster treatment, with the brand also working on making cars sharper and more engaging Electric car appeal is at its lowest since 2019 Electric car appeal is at its lowest since 2019 From poor electric car sales to crashes in F1, Mike Rutherford thinks its been a crazy few weeks in the automotive world
Miami Herald
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
This Is What Mercedes Thinks An Electric AMG Should Sound Like
Mercedes, like other German manufacturers, can sometimes fall victim to a sort of tunnel vision, creating numerous cars that serve the same purpose. But over the last few years, it's been refining its range, and as part of that, the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door will soon be culled to make way for an all-electric super sedan. That upcoming super sedan will be a standalone AMG product, and according to a new teaser clip shared by the automaker on Instagram, it will sound not dissimilar to existing AMGs. Indeed, the audio below seems to take plenty of inspiration from cars with internal combustion engines, but its sonic signature is not the only place we can draw parallels with the current Mercedes offering. The new electric architecture will underpin two vehicles - the sedan you see here and, of course, an SUV. These underpinnings are expected to feature next-generation axial flux motors from subsidiary YASA Motors, a technology that BMW is also exploring. As for output, we expect close to a thousand horsepower in the car (if not more, depending on how many motors the EV gets). The current AMG GT 63 S E Performance range-topper only offers 831 hp, but as a hybrid and not an all-electric vehicle, it doesn't need more because it doesn't have loads of weight to lug around. That being said, this new EV will have smaller and lighter batteries than the current crop of Mercedes EQ models. When the Ioniq 5 N arrived, many doubted whether Hyundai's all-electric performance crossover could be genuinely engaging to drive, but in the years since, numerous evangelists of combustion have conceded that a simulated engine sound and a system that closely mimics a traditional gearbox's responses can convert the non-believers. However, as the comments section of the post shows, many more refuse to even entertain the idea that an EV could be fun, so Mercedes will have to work twice as hard to prove that this is still an AMG at heart, even if it looks half as sleek as the Vision EQXX concept it draws inspiration from. Its first target will be the astonishingly good Porsche Taycan, and with such a high bar, we expect all the high-tech tricks in the book: active battery management, a highly advanced traction control system, and some adaptive aerodynamic elements. We'll know more before the end of the month, as AMG has previously confirmed a reveal for June. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Top Gear
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance review: even faster than an AMG One Reviews 2025
Simple mathematics, my friend. The AMG One took its 1,049bhp and literally immeasurable torque, and converted it into a 0-62mph run of 2.9 seconds. The AMG GT 63 S E Performance (oh boy is typing that out gonna get boring) musters only 805bhp and 1,047lb ft, but somehow shaves an entire tenth off that figure. Holy moly. And just like that, Mercedes gift-wrapped itself a slick sales tag in the process. The powertrain in the AMG GT 63 S E Performance (sigh) needs no introduction, because you've seen it before: that 4.4-litre V8 biturbo and e-motor combo is the same one bequeathed to the AMG GT 4-door, albeit reined in a smidge. The permanently excited synchronous motor sits on the rear axle and is belted onto a two-speed transmission and mechanical limited-slip diff. The battery – a 6.1kWh tiddler – also lives back there, and is ostensibly good for about seven miles of range. Oh yeah, this is a plug-in isn't it? Who's gonna bother? Precisely no one. In most driving modes the battery will always keep some charge on standby, and it can top itself up on the go anyway. Might as well leave the cable in its plastic wrapper. The motor has three jobs: silent (and brief) RWD e-running, emergency front axle support for when the back end starts to slide, and acting as a booster rocket for the engine. And on that last count, it's astonishingly good. Road ahead clear? Excellent. Plant the throttle, and let the curse words flow. Chuffing Nora is it fast. The moment the torque hits the nose vaults up like a speedboat, and for a brief moment you realise how Mark Webber must've felt when his CLR flipped over at Le Mans in '99. Minus the trip to A&E. It's exhilarating and stomach-churning and a little bit terrifying. But not completely immersive. Even in Sport+ – with the exhaust popping and crackling away – that enthralling V8 engine note is every so slightly remote, like it's burbling away in the next room. Also the paddleshift feels disconnected from the nine-speed transmission: it works on commission, not command. So instead of the gear thunking into place, it arrives by email and only then after you've filled in the right paperwork with enough supporting documents. Come on Mercedes, let's have something more mechanical. Boo. So it's not all it's cracked up to be? I didn't say that. It's got weaknesses, sure, but the GT63SEP (nope, I'm not writing it again) is phenomenal to drive. A real, real peach. The steering is wonderfully direct and because the car's so planted it just eats up direction change, like an Alpine A110 that's spent six months in the gym aided by dubious 'supplements'. But it's not a cheat code either. The steering is so finely adjustable that the window for nailing a corner is microscopic. So you'll be up and down your favourite road again and again. And again…
The Citizen
04-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Record setting Mercedes-AMG GT63 S E Performance priced
Second torquiest AMG product on-sale in South Africa today finally arrives after its competition success in Knysna in May. Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance took overall victory in the production car class at the Simola Hillclimb in May. Image: Colin Mileman Having made its public debut at the Simola Hillclimb in Knysna last month, where it won the production car category overall piloted by AMG Driving Experience boss Clint Weston, Mercedes-Benz has divulged pricing of the AMG GT63 S E Performance. Performance hybrid The replacement for the previous generation AMG GT R, the two-door GT63 becomes Affalterbach's second torquiest road car on-sale today behind the S65 E Performance, by combining the stalwart 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with an electric motor and battery pack. Devised as a short range hybrid with emphasis on performance, hence its name, the V8 develops 450kW/850Nm on its own and is mated to the nine-speed MCT transmission. ALSO READ: Mercedes-AMG shocks 500 kW jolt into two-door AMG GT 63 Combined with a rear mounted electric motor developing 150kW/320Nm, driven by a 6.1-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the AMG GT63 S E Performance produces 600kW/1 420Nm, which AMG says will get it from 0-100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 320 km/h. As with the four-door AMG GT63 and the S65 E Performance, drive is routed to all four wheels via the 4Matric+ all-wheel-drive system. Being a plug-in hybrid, but with performance as the main focus, as mentioned, the claim all-electric is a mere 13 km. AMG modes Able to feed as much as 100 kW back into the battery pack using the regenerative braking system, the local market AMG GT63 S E Performance comes with the same hybrid-optimised AMG Dynamic Select system as the variant sold in Europe. In total, this consist of eight settings: Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Individual, Electric and Battery Hold, which uses the V8 as the main propulsion method without affecting the battery's range. Inside and out Carried over from the Old Continent model as well is the rear-axle steering system, the adaptive AMG Ride Control dampers, model specific shock absorbers and springs, the standard AMG carbon ceramic brakes, and the AMG light alloy wheels measuring 20-inches at the front and 21-inches at the rear. Inside, the AMG GT63 S E Performance's unique accommodation includes optional diamond quilting on the AMG Performance Nappa leather trimmed seats, and hybrid graphics and readouts within the 12.3-inch instrument cluster and the 11.9-inch MBUX infotainment system. Price Forming part of a three model range as Mercedes-Benz South Africa's website lists the GT 55 and standard GT 63 as the other variants, albeit without pricing, the GT63 S E Performance as a sticker of R4 369 287, which includes a five-year/100 000 km maintenance plan. NOW READ: Mercedes-AMG takes home the gold and bronze at Simola Hillclimb
Korea Herald
03-04-2025
- Automotive
- Korea Herald
Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 2-door coupe makes Korean debut
Mercedes-Benz unveiled full-change models of its AMG GT 2-door coupe for the first time in Korea at the 2025 Seoul Mobility Show in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on Thursday. At the exhibition's press day event, the company introduced two models from the sports car lineup -- the AMG GT 55 4Matic+, powered by a gasoline engine, and the AMG GT 63 S E Performance, a high-performance hybrid. 'The new Mercedes-AMG GT embodies what AMG stands for like no other vehicle, perfectly blending motorsport DNA, accelerating racetrack capabilities and everyday usability,' said Kylian Telen, vice president of Mercedes-Benz Korea, at the event. Among AMG models, the GT 63 S E Performance boasts the fastest acceleration, reaching 100 kilometers per hour in just 2.8 seconds. The GT 55 4Matic+ is powered by a 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine, delivering a maximum output of 476 horsepower. Both models also offer a foldable second-row seat and a larger trunk space, enhancing practicality for everyday use. Alongside the new GT series, the company also unveiled the AMG CLE 53 4Matic+ coupe, the limited-edition AMG E 53 Hybrid 4Matic+ Edition 1 sedan and the G-Class Fast II Future sport utility vehicle, a collaboration with premium jacket brand Moncler. The models will be on display at the booth throughout the Seoul Mobility Show, which runs until April 13.
