New mega hybrid is brands most powerful yet
Mercedes-AMG has launched its most powerful road car yet and also its first plug-in hybrid, the firm has begun its electrified era with the launch of the new GT 63 S E Performance, a 4-door coupe with a huge 831bhp, eclipsing that of the 690bhp Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid.
Sharing the same power unit as the GT 63 S, a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8, the new model has been added with A 201bhp electric motor on the rear axle in a new arrangement, dubbed as the P3 drive system. Originated from the hybrid drivetrain of Mercedes-AMG's Formula 1 contender, in order to provide the optimised weight distribution and the fastest possible deployment of torque.
The new GT’s added power makes the AMG model the most powerful yet, outdoing the GT Black series by 111bhp, making 831bhp and a mega 1084lb ft of torque will allow a 0-62mph time of just 2.9 seconds and onto 196mph, and it does this with an official average economy figure of 32.8mpg and 196g/km of CO2 emissions.
The 6.1kwh, 400V battery pack from which the electric motor gets its power from is designed for fast power delivery and not long range, as a result the range is only 7.5 miles per charge and 81mph on electric power alone.
The GT 63 S E Performance only has refined exterior design changes regulated to a new front bumper fashioned on the two-door GT, bespoke red badging, new style exhaust exits and select 20in and 21in wheel designs.
On the inside its more of the same, but with added hybrid detailed displays as with other Mercedes PHEV models, including an EV range indicator, real-time power consumption data and an electric motor power gauge.
The Electric drive mode is new, alongside the usual Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Race, Slippery and Individual configurations. Four brake-regeneration settings are available, from no braking to one-pedal driving.
Visually, the PHEV is almost identical to the recently facelifted regular GT 4-Door Coupé.
Underneath, the E Performance comes with AMG's Ride Control+ adaptive suspension platform, this tweaks the damping intensity for each wheel to suit the condition of the surface in just a few milliseconds, and an agility-enhancing dynamics control system that controls settings for the 4WD system, limited-slip differential and ESP. High performance AMG Carbon-Ceramic brakes are also fitted as standard.
The car will make its world debut at the Munich Motor Show next week, Available to order now from £173,655 ahead of customer deliveries
