Mercedes-AMG GT Drag Races Mercedes-AMG C 63, Twin-Turbo V8 Brawl Ends as Expected

Only available as a coupe due to the Mercedes-Benz SL being elevated to AMG status across the board, the C192 couldn't be more different than its predecessor. From the SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9G transmission versus the original's DCT transaxle to the chassis design, the introduction of 4MATIC, and the addition of two unusable rear seats, the AMG GT is now worthy of being called a grand tourer.

Big changes also hampered the appeal of the C 63, which lost its twin-turbocharged V8 for a four-cylinder turbo with plug-in hybrid assistance. The handbuilt four is perfectly fine in the A 45, but clearly too small in a D-segment luxury sedan or station wagon.

Despite being slower to 60 (or 100 if you prefer the metric system), the 205-series C 63 station wagon in the video below sounds much better than its heir. Its twin-turbo V8, however, is different from that of the first-generation AMG GT. How different, though?

The AMG GT-specific M178 features dry-sump lubrication, whereas the M177 uses a conventional setup. Adding to the confusion, the second-generation AMG GT also transitioned to the M177. Even though the M178 isn't found in any current-gen AMG, the dry-sump engine will soldier on as the beating heart of the Aston Martin Valhalla plug-in hybrid supercar. More specifically, the British supercar will use the flat-plane crankshaft M178 LS2 that Mercedes introduced in the GT Black Series.

Pictured at KaRace's usual filming location, the 205-series C 63 wagon and first-gen AMG GT are said to weigh 1,832 and 1,890 kilograms, respectively. Those numbers may be incorrect, though. Mercedes-Benz AG quotes 1,785 kilograms or 3,935 pounds for the T-Modell, which is Mercedes vernacular for station wagon, and 1,615 (3,560) for the AMG GT.

Whatever source you prefer, there's no denying the GT is the quicker and faster vehicle of the two. The performance meters indicated bests of 11.97 and 12.3 seconds in the quarter mile over two races. From zero to 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour), make that 3.8 and 4.3 seconds. Converting from 100 kph to 60 mph usually means 0.2 seconds less than the zero to 100 time, thus resulting in 3.6 and 4.1.

From a roll, the more aerodynamic, lighter, and quicker-shifting AMG GT asserted dominance over its more practical brother yet again. Not only does it gap the C 63 T-Modell to the finish line, but the less powerful AMG GT achieves a VMAX of 206 kilometers per hour (128 miles per hour) compared to a very respectable 203 (126) for the sports wagon.

That said, it's highly probable that AMG division's hot-vee V8 will be discontinued by decade's end. Back in 2021, Mercedes announced that it would go electric in 2030 where market conditions allow. That, in turn, means that gas-powered Mercs will continue to be available in countries and regions where the widespread adoption of EVs simply isn't possible.

Big kahuna Ola Källenius told the motoring media at the 2023 Munich Auto Show that not even Europe may be ready to go fully electric in 2030. But nevertheless, Mercedes intends to have its lineup ready for the inevitable switch to electric vehicles.