Mercedes-AMG GT63 S E Performance review

German brand known for making some of the most ferocious cars on the planet has shown the future is bright for those that love to drive.

2022 AMG GT S E Performance.

This is the most powerful car AMG has ever produced, and under its bonnet is exactly what you would expect to find: a thumping twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8.

But what’s behind the driver’s seat is unexpected; more seats, an electric motor and a battery

pack.

The GT63 S E Performance is the first plug-in hybrid from Mercedes-Benz’s go-fast division. And it’s based on AMG’s GT 4-Door, not the two-seat GT that’s the usual starting point when the company decides to produce something power-crazed.

Benz has blended hybrid power with a beefy V8.

Not even the exotic $800,000 GT Black Series can match the key numbers of the GT63 S E Performance, with its combined maximum output of 620kW, neck-straining 2.9 second 0-100km/h acceleration – and expected $400,000 price-tag when it arrives late this year.

Even though it’s weighty, the performance of the GT63 S E Performance is ballistic.

It bellows and the world outside instantly blurs. The car’s all-wheel-drive traction helps make launching this two tonne-plus-a-lot missile from standstill a memorably violent experience.

That, and the sheer ferocity of the hybrid set-up. But where, exactly, does all the awesome oomph come from?

This is the most powerful Benz car ever produced.

The V8 contributes most. The twin-turbo 4.0-litre is in a fairly hot state of tune and its 470kW and 900Nm power and torque maximums place it near the top of the AMG V8 hierarchy.

The electric motor adds up to 150kW and 320Nm. It’s built into the rear axle and shares the same case as an electronic limited-slip differential and a two-speed gearbox. This transmission makes it possible for the 13,500rpm e-motor to boost performance all the way to the car’s 300km/h-plus top speed.

But the most exotic part of the hybrid system is the innovative battery pack. It doesn’t share any components with the battery of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 car but the pack’s design was “inspired” – as an engineer put it – by what’s used in the racer.

Mercedes has applied some of its learnings from its F1 team in the design of the battery pack.

The GT63 S E Performance’s battery can’t store much juice, so it has a paltry electric-only driving range. Mercedes-AMG claims 12km, but in the real world it’s very likely to be less than this. What the battery pack can do is speedily pour out and soak up lots of electrical power, which is exactly what’s wanted in a performance car.

The cells are designed for power density, not energy density. And they’re directly cooled by 14 litres of a special nonconductive liquid circulating through the cast aluminium battery pack casing above the rear axle. This ensures cell temperatures remain stable in a fairly narrow zone between about 30 and 40 degrees.

Despite its big size it handles well around a track.

With the battery pack and e-motor both in the rear, the GT63 S E Performance has perfect 50:50 weight distribution. And this big car handles very capably when driven hard and very fast around a circuit.

Even more amazing is how the hybrid system software manages the flow of electrical energy, actually raising the charge of the battery when driving on track to ensure maximum performance is always on tap.

The battery pack and other components do reduce the cargo capacity by quite a bit, to 330 litres. With more space for luggage, the GT63 S E Performance would be a very fine tourer.

It’s a beast on the track, but also a beauty on a public road. Compared to most other AMGs, the GT63 S E Performance is a calm and comfortable cruiser.

In Comfort the hybrid set-up is quiet and smooth. The engine stops and starts with barely a murmur and the switching of the rear e-motor transmission between its two ratios is only just detectable if you’re paying attention. While the suspension feels quite firm on rough surfaces, it’s far from unbearable.

According to AMG engineers, the hybrid system cuts real-world fuel consumption by about 10 per cent.

The interior is sporty and opulent. The front seats are deeply bolstered for support while cornering, but the materials and quality are properly high-class throughout.

Though the instrument panel of GT63 S E Performance isn’t as clean and clutter-free as the latest generation of Mercedes-Benz products – the new S-Class for example – it is both expensive-looking and user-friendly.

There will be more AMGs like this one. The company’s technical chief, Jochen Hermann, drops hints that this hybrid set-up will go into future models wearing the high-performance “S” designation. The brand’s power-hungry followers will love them.

MERCEDES-AMG GT63 S E PERFORMANCE VITALS

PRICE $400,000 (est)

ENGINE 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo; 470kW/900Nm

ELECTRIC MOTOR 150kW/320Nm

COMBINED OUTPUT 620kW and 1010-1470Nm

PERFORMANCE 0-100km/h in 2.9sec

THIRST 8.6L/100km (WLTP Europe)

Originally published as Mercedes-AMG GT63 S E Performance review