Mercedes-AMG revealed plans of unveiling its first E Performance hybrid car, a grand-touring sports car like the next-generation SL, or a supercar, 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT63 SE Performance 4-Door. Like the standard GT 63 S, the E Performance uses a V8 engine, now tuned to produce 639 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque all on its own. An electric motor contributes an additional 204 hp and 236 lb-ft (for 10-second bursts), so total output is 843 hp and a staggering 1,034 lb-ft. The new GT63 S E Performance takes Formula 1 technology and brings it to the street, melding AMG’s existing twin-turbo V8 with an electric motor and an advanced battery pack, all stuffed into the existing GT 4-Door Coupe body. The result is AMG’s most powerful production vehicle ever, and a sign of what’s to come from the brand.
The GT63 S E Performance has four levels of regenerative braking that are controlled by a button on the steering wheel, with the lowest level of regen basically unnoticeable to the driver, while the highest level offers one-pedal driving like with a full EV. There are seven drive modes in total, with the new Electric mode joining Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus, Race, Slippery (for wet conditions) and the configurable Individual mode. In the EV mode all-wheel drive is still always available thanks to the electric motor’s mechanical connection to the drivetrain, and when the battery has been depleted the car automatically switches to Comfort mode. In Comfort the car deploys electric driving when it’s most beneficial, like at low speeds in the city. Delve into the Sport and Race modes and the V8 wakes up, with the electric motor providing a performance boost. The car typically starts up silently in electric mode, but a special sound “typical of AMG” is played through the interior’s speakers to let the driver know the car is ready.
The lightweight 6.1-kWh lithium-ion battery pack lies just above the EV motor, and development of the battery was influenced by the one used in Mercedes’ F1 car. The 400-volt battery weighs just 196 pounds and has double the power density of traditional batteries, thanks to a world-first direct-cooling system that always keeps the battery at the optimal operating temperature. The twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V8 puts out the same 630 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque as in the existing GT63 S, though it now features an integrated 48-volt starter-generator system. Positioned at the rear axle is a single electric motor putting out 201 hp and 236 lb-ft that has its own two-speed gearbox; as it works directly on the rear axle it provides quicker responses and acceleration. There’s an electronically controlled limited-slip differential for better grip and power delivery in corners, and electric power can be sent to the front wheels as required. AMG also overhauled the standard air suspension setup and the GT’s stability control system.
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT63 SE Performance 4-Door has a combined output of 843 horsepower and a bewildering 1,033 lb-ft. of torque. The electric motor acts directly on the rear axle and can therefore convert its power more directly into propulsion – for that extra boost when moving off a start line, accelerating hard, or overtaking on the highway. The gas engine has a nine-speed MCT automatic transmission, while the rear electric motor has a two-speed automated gearbox with an electronic limited-slip rear differential.With 843 horsepower and all that available torque, the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance is faster than stink. Mercedes-AMG claims zero to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and zero to 125 mph in under 10 seconds. Moreover, the automaker claims powerful acceleration is present until its 196 mph top speed, which is mind-boggling. The 2023 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance has a multi-chamber air suspension with AMG Ride Control+ and two pressure relief valves: one valve controls the rebound damping, and the other controls the compression damping. The result is a fully variable air suspension system that can stiffen or soften the ride as needed.
