Mercedes-AMG has a new top dog in the numbers stakes, following this morning’s unveiling of the new GT 63 S E; a plug-in hybrid trim added to an already explosive four-door sedan.
The big news is power. Under the bonnet is the same 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 as in the (not so) standard GT 63. Only now AMG has added a 6.1kWh battery pack and an additional electric motor on the rear axle.
Power and torque figures have been lifted to a staggering 620kW and 1400Nm, making this the most powerful factory AMG machine ever made. Mercedes claims it will accelerate to 100km/h in 2.9 seconds, 200km/h in 10 seconds, eventually clocking a top speed of 315km/h.
While the battery is fairly small, it’s also somewhat light at 89kg. It was developed by Mercedes’ Formula 1 team in the UK, who of course know a thing about developing hybrid powertrains.
Other changes include a revised set of drive modes, now including a mode that allows it to drive in pure electric mode (although pure EV range is rated at a fairly anemic 12km), with a four-stage regenerative braking system.
The S E also now gets AMG Ride Control Plus adaptive suspension with air-based damping as standard, with Mercedes giving the model a slightly different calibration relative to other models.
Visual changes? Well, they’re few and far between. The GT 63 S E looks almost identical to the ordinary pure combustion models. The added plug-in port on the rear bumper is the most obvious change. The front bumper has been slightly revised, too.
Changes inside are similarly mild, which is perhaps surprising given that the GT 63 is among the last models in the Mercedes range to adopt the brand’s new interior styling philosophies. This means it still has the big curvy dashboard, although paired with a familiar dual-screen MBUX system for the cluster and primary infotainment.
Mercedes-AMG’s local arm has already confirmed the new model for New Zealand showrooms, although pricing is still to be confirmed. It’s expected to top the GT 63 range, with pricing no doubt eclipsing the standard model’s $326,600 sticker price.
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