AMG reveals rapid GT 63 S but it’s on a slow boat to Australia

With Porsche’s Panamera and Ferrari’s Portofino as potential targets, the AMG GT 63 S takes 3.2 seconds to reach highway pace ... but it’s 12 months from Australian release.

AMG GT 63 S.

AMG’s production-ready GT 4-Door Coupe was unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show overnight. But this Ferrari-fast four-door from Mercedes-Benz’s high-performance division will take its time getting to Australia; it won’t go on sale here for another 12 months.

AMG GT 63 S: 4-door Coupe will take on Porsche Panamera.

With its hatchback body and choice of four or five-seat interior layouts, the GT 4-Door Coupe is a competitor for Porsche’s big Panamera. The new Mercedes-AMG is a hefty two tonnes and up, as is the Porsche.

Engine options for the bulky fastback will be twin-turbo V8s or electric-boosted turbo in-line six, each equipped with an AMG-toughened nine-speed automatic and 4matic all-wheel drive.

In 63 S form, with a 470kW version of AMG’s familiar 4.0-litre V8, its maker claims the GT 4-Door Coupe will be able to rip from standstill to 100km/h in only 3.2 seconds.

This would make the long, low and luxurious AMG quicker than Ferrari’s new Portofino 2+2 coupe-cabrio, also with twin-turbo V8 power.

AMG GT 63 S: Twin-turbo tipped to be faster than Ferrari Portofino.

AMG will produce the 4-Door Coupe with a 430kW non-S version of the V8. Despite the drop in power, the plain 63 will accelerate faster than the latest Ferrari too.

The least powerful GT 4-Door Coupe will wear a 53 badge, with propulsion from the same electric-boosted 3.0-litre six that powers the top version of the latest Mercedes CLS line-up.

With this one the emphasis is more on efficiency. The six features a conventional exhaust-driven turbocharger that works in tandem with an electric compressor to boost power to 320kW.

AMG GT 63 S: Leather trim, of course, and huge array of options.

What’s more, its electric motor-alternator sandwiched between the engine and automatic transmission can deliver a brief performance boost when needed.

The GT 53 will take a second longer to reach 100/km from a standing start, not much of a penalty for its fuel economy, which is 20 per cent better than the V8 versions.

It’s likely that all engine variants will make it into showrooms. “At this stage we’re looking at all three,” says Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman Jerry Stamoulis.

Australian deliveries in about 12 months: Three engine options likely, with top-spec examples priced at about $300,000.

How much the Coupes will cost is a long way from being decided. But they will be positioned between Mercedes-AMG’s E63 and S63 sedans, Stamoulis says.

This puts them in the $250,000 to $300,000 range. AMG aims to option the heavyweight fastback with multiple means of individualisation.

On top of delivering a hi-tech sports car driving experience, says Mercedes-AMG chairman Tobias Moers, the 4-Door Coupe will come with a “high degree of day-to-day suitability”.