Mercedes-AMG raises the bar with its most outrageous creation yet, the GT 63 S E Performance hybrid

That the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+ is an absolute beast was something we already knew, but just in case, the star brand made sure to confirm it at the Nurburgring, snatching the lap record from the hands of driver Demian Schaffert, beating the Porsche Panamera. Now the performance division of Mercedes has outdone itself once again, this time with the GT 63 S E Performance, the plug-in hybrid version of this high-performance saloon.

The most important features of the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance lie under its bonnet, where the recipe for further improvement is hidden, since otherwise it is practically identical to its conventional combustion-engined version. Under the bonnet we find the 4,000 cc twin-turbo V8 engine delivering 639 CV and, mounted over the rear axle, an electric motor producing 204 CV, which adds up to a combined output of 843 CV and an impressive torque of 1,400 Nm, enabling it to reach 100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 319 km/h.

Mated to the V8 is a nine-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, as well as an electronically controlled limited-slip differential on the rear axle. In addition, the electric motor uses a two-speed gearbox that is electronically controlled. This gearbox engages second gear at most when reaching a speed close to 140 km/h, which corresponds to a maximum electric motor speed of around 13,500 rpm. It should be noted that torque is always prioritised to the rear axle, but thanks to the 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system it is possible to send power to the front axle depending on driving needs or the selected driving programme (Electric, Comfort, Sport, Sport+, RACE, Slippery Road, Individual).

We must not forget that the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance is still a plug-in hybrid vehicle, so completing its hybrid system is a battery with a capacity of 6.1 kWh, allowing a continuous output of 70 kW and a peak output of 150 kW, the latter only for a period of 10 seconds. Its all-electric range is laughable, just 12 km, but for a vehicle of this kind what matters is its ability to recover energy and release it again quickly, and that is where the regenerative braking system comes in, in which the driver can select up to five energy recovery modes, one of them tied to the RACE driving mode.

Owners of the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance will need to study the manual seriously, as it will not be the only thing to adjust. For example, the air suspension with the AMG RIDE CONTROL+ system includes automatic levelling and adaptive damping, which can be configured in Basic, Advanced, Pro and Master modes, the last one dedicated solely to the RACE driving mode. Furthermore, continuing with the dynamics parameters, the electric motor is capable of taking over the functions of the ESP and the limited-slip differential, so it can regulate the torque sent to each wheel based on the torque vectoring distribution.

As you can see, the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance, besides its surprising figures, is a true feat of engineering and development, something the brand has taken care to demonstrate through the multitude of parameters that can be configured and, consequently, its price will reflect all this technology. We will surely learn more soon, as the brand intends for its market launch to begin during the last quarter of this same year.