Long promised, the electrification of Mercedes-AMG’s engines begins here. The new GT 63 S E Performance 4-Door Coupé is the first plug-in hybrid (PHEV) by Mercedes-Benz’s performance division, and with 831bhp (a significant 111bhp more than the raucous Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series two-door), it also holds the distinction of being the most potent AMG yet.
The luxurious liftback builds on the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé that was launched in 2018. Its brawny twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine has been combined with an electric motor integrated into the rear axle, in an electrification process that AMG’s chief technical officer, Jochen Hermann, says we will see a lot more of in the not-too-distant future.
Operating at 400V, the motor adds 201bhp to the 630bhp of the engine, lifting power well beyond that of the rival Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid (690bhp), as well as traditional super-saloons like the BMW M5 Competition (616bhp).
It’s the torque that benefits the most, though, climbing from an already potent 663lb ft to a considerably more serious 1082lb ft. The decision to mount the motor at the rear allows its drive to be channelled directly to the rear wheels via a two-speed gearbox. The engine, meanwhile, sends its reserves to all four wheels via the nine-speed Speedshift MCT automatic gearbox of the GT 63 S.
There are six driving modes: Slippery, Electric, Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus and Race. The Drive Dynamic controller also supports an Individual mode that allows you to tailor various aspects of the car.