Mercedes-AMG has faced some severe criticism from its fanbase over the last decade for various reasons. One of them was called the CLA, a BMW M2 rival that was often deemed as not being able to stand its ground against the competition (pun intended).
More recently, the Affalterbach brand has given the car world a 2-liter powered C 63. Yes, you read that right; the M3 challenger from Mercedes-AMG no longer features a V8. It doesn't get a six-banger either, but a four-pot with electric assistance. The new one is certainly more powerful at 670 hp (680 ps/500 kW) and 752 lb-ft (1,020 Nm) of torque. It can push to 62 mph (100 kph) in 3.4 seconds and taps out at 174 mph (280 kph), all this while not sounding like a performance car anymore.
We cannot mention criticism and Mercedes in the same paragraph and not briefly speak about the reliability and quality issues of numerous modern-day vehicles, and we'll leave it at that, as this story isn't about bashing the three-pointed star brand but praising it for one extremely fast model. It is none other than the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance, a wolf in sheep's clothing that mixes the best of both worlds: V8 firepower and electric assistance, which leads to neck-snapping performance in a car that is still very posh.
The V8 mill lying under the hood is none other than the ubiquitous 4.0-liter bi-turbo. It steams out 630 horsepower (639 ps/470 kW) and puts 664 pound-feet (900 Nm) under the driver's right foot. Backing it up and sipping electrons from a 6.1 kWh battery is an electric motor, which brings 201 hp (204 ps/150 kW) to the party, as well as 236 lb-ft (320 Nm). It boasts a combined 831 horsepower (843 ps/620 kW) and has over 1,033 lb-ft (1,400 Nm) to play with.
Everything goes to the 4Matic+ all-wheel drive system via a nine-speed automatic transmission. Mercedes-AMG quotes the 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 kph) at 2.9 seconds, stating that the GT 63 S E Performance can hit 124 mph (200 kph) in less than ten seconds after setting off. As for the top speed, it is up there with some of the quickest exotic machines, at 196 mph or 316 kph. The car weighs almost 5,250 pounds (2,380 kg), so it's a very heavy boy, which makes the performance even more impressive.
Photo: Brabus
Mind you, with extra elbow grease, it can overcome its initial status. Brabus gave the pictured copy its PowerXtra B40E-930 power kit and an exhaust system with active valves, lifting the magic numbers to 917 hp (930 ps/684 kW) and 1,143 lb-ft (1,550 Nm). According to the renowned tuner, the extra oomph has dropped the sprint time by one-tenth compared to the stock one, and the top speed has remained untouched. The average fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions interest few enthusiasts, yet Brabus has still released these numbers, which are 19.8 mpg-US (11.9 l/100 km) and 268 g/km.
A few carbon fiber add-ons can be seen on the outside, from the front lip and side skirts to the rear diffuser and wing. Brabus also gave it its logo all around and changed the stock wheels with the Monoblock Z Platinum Edition. The ten-spoke alloys have a black glossy finish, measure 10.5x21-inch at the front and 12x22-inch at the rear, come with 275/35 and 335/25 tires, respectively, and spin around the Brabus-branded brake calipers. A lowering module is also on deck alongside the aforementioned exhaust system with carbon-titanium tailpipes.
This GT 63 S E Performance comes with a complete tuning package, meaning that the interior was also visited by Brabus. Here, they gave it new leather upholstery on most touchable components, an Alcantara headliner, leather floor mats, several red elements, aluminum pedal pads, special door lock pins, and even more carbon fiber. As for the factory equipment, it is very vast, comprising Burmester audio, ambient lighting, a panoramic roof, heated rear seats, a 360-degree camera system, and other stuff that would certainly interest the car's future owner.
Brabus has this four-door rocket listed on its official website here, and they're asking a fortune to let it go. The asking price at the time of writing was 384,435.99, or $421,711. This equals a very nice home in most parts of the Western world. You could also buy a brand-new supercar or limit your choice to a fresh-off-the-lot S-Class and a sports model to drive on weekends. But this GT 63 S E Performance is a very versatile machine, which is almost as powerful as the original Bugatti Veyron. Combined with the Brabus goodies mentioned above, this makes it a rare and very exciting beast. We think it won't stay on the second-hand market for a long time. Know anyone who would buy it in a heartbeat?
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News