LIKE A THUNDERBOLT
Plug-in hybrid offers commendable efficiency, but it's been designed primarily for power
The 2023 Mercedes-amg GT 63S E Performance will come in one of 10 available colours, three of which are bold: two bright hues of blue and one bright red. I would, however, recommend one of the more discreet shades of white, grey or black.
That’s because when driving around town, you’d want to downplay the ludicrous performance of this super-sleeper. Especially since you can pull up on almost any unsuspecting supercar or muscle car adversary in total silence at a stoplight, and leave them gapemouthed in your dust when the light turns green.
While the Mercedes-amg GT 63S E Performance is a genuine plug-in hybrid, its electrified drivetrain is designed primarily for performance — it’s in the name, after all. Sure, it can drive up to a modest 12 kilometres on battery power alone, and it claims a combined fuel consumption of 7.9 L/100 km (Euro standards). But it nonetheless has a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V-8 under the hood that produces 630 horsepower.
Combined with the 150-kw electric motor, power output jumps to 831 horsepower, with torque peaking at 1,084 lb-ft. That’s a touch more than the Ram HD pickup. You won’t be using that massive torque to pull trailers, of course, but you will enjoy launching this GT 63S like a cannonball every chance you get. It’s obvious that this AMG is electrified primarily for power, though improved fuel efficiency is a byproduct of its hybrid system. Despite its size and 2,380-kg weight, it’ll go from zero to 100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds, three-tenths quicker than the non-hybrid GT 63S, which weighs about 220 kg less.
Like on the non-hybrid GT 63S, a slew of interior amenities, materials, and surface finishes and colours are available in the E Performance. You get the MBUX multimedia system, which is updated to display hybrid info, as well as all of the available driver aids. Multi-chamber, self-levelling suspension with electronically adjustable damping is also standard.
According to AMG, the electric drive system is a “copy-paste” of an F1 system. Unlike other plugin hybrids, the GT’S electric motor is not located between the engine and transmission, but is rather in the rear axle, aft of the nine-speed dual-clutch gearbox. According to AMG, this allows it to deliver torque more efficiently to the wheels. It connects to an electronically controlled, limited-slip rear axle through a two-speed gearbox; second gear engages at speeds above 140 km/h.
The 6.1-kwh battery was designed in-house at AMG using F1 technology, and is designed primarily to maximize performance. To maintain consistent temperature, the battery is liquid-cooled, using a dedicated cooling system with a 14-litre capacity. It weighs 89 kg and can deliver up to 150 kw for 10 seconds — you know, to keep you ahead of that pesky Mclaren. It therefore delivers power quickly, and it discharges quickly. However, it also recharges quickly while driving. This is something I experienced while driving the 63S E Performance on the track and on the road.
Driving at Spain’s Circuito Monteblaco racetrack, under high power in Race mode, depleted the battery to about half of its capacity, with 54 per cent power remaining after five laps. However, a single cool-down lap (or recharge lap, if you prefer) in Race mode brought battery power back up to 76 per cent. Another lap or two would have probably charged it fully. Race mode offers maximum power, maximum charging while driving if revs are kept above 3,000 rpm, but minimum regen power.
Handling on the track isn’t as sharp as it is on the standard GT 63S for two reasons. One is the added weight of the hybrid. The other is that the hybrid’s electric drivetrain takes up some space in the rear, space that is used for the rear-wheel steering system on the GT 63S, which the hybrid lacks.
However, the car blasts out of corners with neck-snapping force, and remains level through corners, allowing high cornering speeds despite rolling on Michelin Pilot Sport 4S road tires, rather than on a stickier track compound. One issue that arose on the track was some discernible brake fade, which became noticeable after two laps, the pedal getting softer despite the optional carbon-ceramic brakes on the track cars. But track driving isn’t this four-door coupe’s forte.
Switching to Comfort mode for the road drive, the 63S E Performance turns into a coddling luxury car. The air suspension softens up considerably, returning a smooth, almost cushy ride, while the exhaust note also softens up to provide near S-class levels of cabin serenity. It’s especially quiet in town, since Comfort mode enables fully electric driving at lower speeds.
On the road, I let the battery drop to 25 per cent of its charge before switching to Race mode to take advantage of the mode’s enhanced battery charging; the battery charged to 96 per cent full after just seven minutes of driving. This is handy, since you can switch to Race mode several kilometres before arriving home, and then park with a fully charged battery.
Aside from the aforementioned Race mode, there’s also Electric, Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Race, Slippery, and Individual modes, each one setting throttle, steering, gearbox, suspension, and hybrid-drive parameters accordingly. You can also select power regeneration to one of four levels, the highest of which allows you to drive around town with almost entirely without using the brakes. In Electric mode the GT is capable of driving up to 130 km/h without gasoline.
The 2023 GT 63S E Performance is AMG’S most powerful regular-production car ever, outdone only by the upcoming limited-edition AMG One, which claims more than 1,000 horsepower. Aside from the G 63 SUV, the GT 63S E Performance will likely also be the most expensive car to leave a Mercedes-amg showroom (the current GT 63S starts at $184,400). But it won’t be the only electrified one. Its electric drive system is said to be compatible with many engine displacements and configurations, opening up the possibility for smaller, more accessible models in the future. A fully electric AMG model is also in the works.
But, while AMG is currently on the road to future full electrification, the GT 63S E Performance is confirmation that the company’s approach remains purely dedicated to performance.