Mercedes’ F1-inspired hybrid on the way to Australia

Technology pinched from Lewis Hamilton’s championship-winning machine will make this one of the fastest and most desirable four-door cars on the road.

The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance is coming to Australia.

Hybrid technology pinched from Formula 1 will make the next Mercedes-AMG sedan one of the fastest cars on the road.

Set to go on sale locally in 2022, the somewhat awkwardly-named Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance adds a dose of hybrid power to an already potent sports sedan.

The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance promises show-stopping performance.

Most hybrid cars aim to sip as little fuel as possible, reducing running costs and vehicle emissions for environmentally conscious owners.

The new GT 63 takes a different approach.

Rather than being built to eke as many miles as possible from its electric storage, the AMG’s battery system is designed to discharge its energy as quickly as possible.

The big sedan benefits from lessons learned in F1.

The result is shattering performance – a combined 620kW and 1400Nm from a powerful V8 up front teamed with an electric motor on the rear axle.

The combination is good for a 2.9 second dash to 100km/h, along with a 316km/h top speed.

The car can drive on electric power alone for up to 12 kilometres – which is much less than everyday plug-in hybrid models such as the latest Mercedes-Benz C-Class – and at speeds up to 130km/h.

A thunderous V8 with hybrid power propels the new machine.

Engineers in AMG’s German headquarters worked with Grand Prix gurus in Mercedes’ Brixworth powertrain plant to make the car’s 470kW/900Nm twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 and nine-speed automatic transmission work with a separate 150kW electric motor and two speed transmission.

One of the lessons learned lies in using the electric motor as a form of traction control for the big V8, giving drivers improved precision on track without slowing the car down by applying brakes or reducing power.

A hi-tech cabin with premium materials is part of the deal.

A broad choice of driving modes allows owners to choose mild or wild power strategies, working with variable air suspension to match the pilot’s mood.

Mercedes claims its new battery has double the power density of conventional alternatives, and that the rear-mounted electrical hardware lends superior weight distribution to rival machines.

The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance goes on sale in 2022.

Full Australian details and prices for the machine have not been confirmed, but we would not expect much change from $500,000 or so. Though that is a lot of cash – at least double the asking price of the upcoming C63 hybrid sedan – it represents a good degree of F1 tech for about one tenth the asking price of the upcoming Mercedes-AMG One hypercar.

Originally published as Mercedes’ F1-inspired hybrid on the way to Australia