Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S
Updated coupé-SUV gets raucous 503bhp twin-turbo V8
IT takes just 3.8 seconds for the new Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S to sprint from 0-62mph. It’s a time many supercar makers would have been proud of 15 years ago, yet now you can stroll into a Mercedes dealer and buy an SUV that makes it look easy.
It’s a number that means the refreshed AMG model, which gains the same styling and tech upgrades as the rest of the GLC range, is a match for the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio in a straight-line sprint. The new BMW X4 M and the Jaguar F-Pace SVR (at a languid 4.1 seconds each) trail behind.
Much like the 63-badged models across the rest of the Mercedes-AMG family, the GLC features a 4.0-litre engine that nestles a pair of turbos between the banks of its eight cylinders. As before, it’s available in two flavours: the standard version gets 469bhp and 650Nm of torque, and the S model that we’re driving here comes with 503bhp and 700Nm. Those numbers are carried over almost unchanged from the pre-facelift model, but that’s no bad thing, because this is one of the finest engines on sale today.
Performance is staggering. On the road it feels every bit as fast as the claimed figures suggest, and there’s no letting up as the relentless shove pushes until the speed is well into three figures.
The nine-speed box has revised software for faster, smoother changes; accelerate hard, and each upshift fires home seamlessly, while a multiple-downshift function allows for quicker kickdowns during overtaking. Plus a button on the centre console lets the driver take full control of the transmission via the steering wheel-mounted paddles.
If there’s a small nit to be picked about the powertrain, it’s that the exhaust – after some emissions-related tweaks – doesn’t quite deliver the thunderous noise it once did. But you’d only notice if you had spent time with its predecessor and, Jaguar F-Pace SVR aside, the GLC 63 still makes the most exciting sound in this class.
The chassis changes transform the AMG’s driving experience over the standard GLC’s, too. Where the regular car feels a little heavy and lethargic, the 63 turns into corners sharply, and offers more adjustability midbend than seems sane in a big SUV.
A range of chassis upgrades, including an electronic locking differential for the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system, dynamic engine mounts (standard on the S), and AMG-tuned air suspension set-up, are to thank for this.
The GLC still doesn’t have the hot hatchlike agility of a Porsche Macan, nor can it
“Performance is staggering. There’s no letting up until the speed is well into three figures”
quite match that car’s compliance over bumps, but it’s still hugely impressive.
Like the rest of the recently revised GLC range, the AMG 63 models gain a host of cosmetic upgrades inside and out. The head and tail-light designs are new; the units are slimmer at the front, and both ends get more distinctive LED lighting signatures. Around the back, the bumper’s lower edge features four 90mm exhaust pipe trims, while a new set of 21-inch wheels is available as an option.
As before, the Coupé features a sloping roofline that tapers towards a rounded bootlid, which is capped off by a lip spoiler on AMG models. You can make your own mind up about the looks of the Coupé, but it’s hard to argue with the sort of on-road presence that buyers of these cars love.
Inside, the cabin is lifted by a new design of steering wheel, with an Alcantaratrimmed rim that feels firm and slim – just what you want in a performance car. The spokes gain touch-sensitive pads to control the updated MBUX infotainment system and the customisable digital dials, all featuring AMG-specific functions and displays. Elsewhere, there’s some carbonfibre trim on the centre console, while the seats are finished in a mix of grey and black leather, with yellow highlights and stitching.
As with other versions of the GLC Coupé, the roofline brings its own compromises to practicality. Anyone more than six feet tall sat in the back will be brushing their head against the headlining, and while the boot space is still a reasonable 500 litres, it’s 80 less than you get in the regular GLC.
Prices for the GLC 63 start at £74,599, rising to the £90,845 for the Coupé model in Premium Plus trim. The S costs just over £10k more than the standard car, while the step up from SUV to Coupé adds £2,490. The Premium Plus pack is a £2,500 option, and includes a Burmester sound system, a panoramic sunroof and keyless entry.