The GT 63 S E Performance gets greener and meaner, thanks to F1-derived hybrid techMercedes-Benz

Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: AMG’s first performance hybrid

Mercedes-AMG has made its first crack at a performance hybrid with the GT 63 S E Performance and boy does it pack a punch

Win on Sunday, sell on Monday has been an age-old adage among carmakers, and Mercedes-Benz has proved this right, time and again. Having dominated in Formula E and the turbo-hybrid era of Formula 1, Mercedes is bringing its learnings to the road with the AMG GT 63 S E Performance. The GT 63 S E Performance is AMG’s first performance hybrid, and more importantly, it is the most powerful production car that AMG makes!

The Panamericana grille on the GT 63 S E Performance looks really menacingMercedes-Benz

Design

Visually, there is not much to differentiate the GT 63 S E’s hybrid intent – which is a good thing.

Like the standard car, there’s still a hint of AMG rortiness in the design, with those pumped up wheel arches and the Panamericana grille. But all those sporty bits are brought together by a stunning silhouette that we’ve come to know and love with the GT 4-Door.

E Performance badges are the only differentiators when compared to the GT 4-DoorMercedes-Benz

On closer inspection, you will find E Performance badges flanking the fenders of the GT 63 S, which are the only giveaways of this being a more environmentally-friendly AMG.

Typical sporty but luxurious environs on the GT 63 S E PerformanceMercedes-Benz

Interiors

It’s a similar story on the inside, with the GT 63 S E Performance (that name really is a mouthful) continuing to carry over the interiors from the standard GT 63 S. There is a massive slab of digital real estate which includes a central display and the Widescreen Cockpit with AMG-hybrid specific elements, both of which run on Mercedes’ MBUX software. In addition to the standard car, the E Performance gets additional colour schemes for the Nappa leather with contrasting topstitching – exclusive to this E Performance variant.

The four-litre V8 when combined with an e-motor produces nearly 850bhpMercedes-Benz

Power Unit

Coming to the heart of the matter, most of the changes to the GT 63 S E Performance lie under the hood. The four-litre biturbo V8 is now complemented by a permanently excited synchronous electric motor and high-performance battery developed using learnings from Mercedes’ Formula 1 cars.

The electric motor enables an electric-only range of 12km and can power the GT 63 S E Performance upto 130kmph without cranking the V8 up. Sitting on the rear axle, the electric motor also helps provide additional boost when accelerating off the line. The V8 and the electric motor deliver a combined output of 841bhp, making it the most powerful production car that Mercedes-AMG makes. More mind boggling is the fact that the GT 63 S E Performance makes 1,470Nm of torque – that’s nearly Bugatti Chiron territory! That power is sent to all four wheels via AMG’s Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive system and a 9-speed Speedshift MCT.

The GT 63 S E Performance is AMG's first step towards all-electric performance carsMercedes-Benz

Mercedes had earlier revealed its plans to be all-electric by the end of the decade, having taken its first step in that direction with EVs like the EQC. However, it's only now that the AMG performance brand has steered toward electrification. In the future, we will also get to see fully-electric AMGs. But for now, what you get with the Mercedes-AMG's first hybrid is a win-win situation. It is a bit kinder to trees when pootling around the city thanks to the e-motor and at the same time, this AMG now gets even more ludicrous power figures from its F1-derived genes. Truly a case of win on Sunday, sell on Monday!

Mercedes AMG