Photo: S.Baldauf/SB-Medien
Since direct rivals such as the BMW X3 M, Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio or the Porsche Macan Turbo S have never given their customers the pleasure of trying to harness the power of more than six cylinders, the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 is in a class of its own, as the only compact crossover with a V8 under the hood.
Unfortunately, soon you will need to say goodbye to the rumble, because the next generation of the GLC 63 is going green by halving its eight-cylinder in half and adding some electrons in the propulsion mix.
Set to first make an appearance on the upcoming 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 63, the new plug-in hybrid powertrain has a lot in common with both the AMG ‘45’ models and the mighty GT 63 S E Performance.
In short, we're talking about the M139 four-cylinder, which has been rotated 90 degrees from a transverse to a longitudinal position for the upcoming C 63 and GLC 63, but that is by far the smallest modification it has suffered.
Apart from receiving an electric compressor (E-turbo) to completely remove all traces of lag, the engine is also augmented by a mild-hybrid system and last, but certainly not least, by an electric motor with up to 204 PS (201 HP) in boost mode.
The cherry on the cake is that the electric motor, situated on the rear axle, has its own two-speed gearbox, meaning that the electric boost is available even at high speeds.
It takes its juice from a light and compact lithium-ion battery that should also give the 2023 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 an emission-free range of around 12 km (7.4 miles) and can also be charged from a plug.
In regular driving modes, the model is set to deliver a combined output of 544 PS (537 HP), but for a limited time it can boost the overall output to no less than 653 PS (644 HP) and over 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque.
You can expect the second-generation GLC 63 to go official a few months after its little brother, the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 63, makes its debut later this year.
Set to first make an appearance on the upcoming 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 63, the new plug-in hybrid powertrain has a lot in common with both the AMG ‘45’ models and the mighty GT 63 S E Performance.
In short, we're talking about the M139 four-cylinder, which has been rotated 90 degrees from a transverse to a longitudinal position for the upcoming C 63 and GLC 63, but that is by far the smallest modification it has suffered.
Apart from receiving an electric compressor (E-turbo) to completely remove all traces of lag, the engine is also augmented by a mild-hybrid system and last, but certainly not least, by an electric motor with up to 204 PS (201 HP) in boost mode.
The cherry on the cake is that the electric motor, situated on the rear axle, has its own two-speed gearbox, meaning that the electric boost is available even at high speeds.
It takes its juice from a light and compact lithium-ion battery that should also give the 2023 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 an emission-free range of around 12 km (7.4 miles) and can also be charged from a plug.
In regular driving modes, the model is set to deliver a combined output of 544 PS (537 HP), but for a limited time it can boost the overall output to no less than 653 PS (644 HP) and over 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque.
You can expect the second-generation GLC 63 to go official a few months after its little brother, the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 63, makes its debut later this year.
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