Mercedes’ First Performance Hybrid Launched In India

It can hit 100kmph from nothing in 2.9 seconds and clock 316kmph before the electronic speed governors kick in.

What you see here has an overwhelming name – the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance. The folks from Stuttgart call it their first ‘Performance Hybrid’. In truth, the Germans should have also added 4Matic+ at the end but let it be! The four-door coupe has landed on Indian shores, sporting a starting ex-showroom price tag of INR 3.30 crore. Why so expensive? Well, the direct import route attracts a mahusive tax. Also, the tech it features, especially in the powertrain department, has been derived from the world of Formula One.

The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance packs a combination of an internal combustion engine, a 9-speed automatic gearbox, a 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system, an electric motor and a battery that powers it. Under the bonnet is a 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 that, on its own, produces 639hp/900Nm. On the other hand, the electric motor gets its juices from a 6.1kWh battery and offers up to 204hp/320Nm. The total system output? It is 839hp, with torque ranging between 1,010Nm and 1,470Nm.

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As a result, the four-door hybrid can hit 100kmph from nothing in 2.9 seconds. Flat out, it’ll register 316kmph before the electronic speed governors kick in. On electric power alone, the car can hit 130kmph and travel up to 12km before running out of juice. Not much, but that’s enough for a quiet run through the city streets. One can charge the battery using the onboard 3.7kW AC charger.

Complementing the powertrain are features such as AMG Ride Control+ suspension, 20-inch wheels, high-performance AMG-spec ceramic brakes, four-stage battery energy recuperation, and seven driving modes. The car also gets the twin-spoke AMG steering wheel and the latest MBUX software with AMG hybrid-specific displays. And, of course, Mercedes-Benz has an array of personalisation options, including 14 designo packages, 4 trim finishes, 14 upholsteries and 17 colours for the exterior.

The AMG GT 63 S E Performance is one of the 10 models Mercedes-Benz India will launch in 2023. The performance four-door coupe is a direct rival to the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. So, which of the two are you picking?