New Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 to get 500kW of PHEV power

Mercedes-AMG to snatch world’s quickest mid-size luxury SUV title with a 500kW plug-in hybrid powertrain

The second-generation 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC will get the full-blown AMG 63 treatment courtesy of the same 500kW plug-in hybrid powertrain from the upcoming Mercedes-AMG C 63 AMG S, a senior executive from the German car-maker has confirmed.

The news sets the scene for an electrified power war with the likes of Porsche and Tesla for the title of world’s quickest, fastest and most powerful mid-size luxury SUV.

While the bigger Aston Martin DBX 707 is quicker (0-100km: 3.3sec), faster (top speed: 310km/h) and more powerful (520kW/900Nm), the current GLC 63 (375kW/700Nm) is already one of the world’s quickest medium SUVs – matching the 3.8-second 0-100km/h time of the BMW X3/X4 M and upcoming Maserati Grecale Trofeo.

The new Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 will be undoubtedly quicker, and it will need to be to match the new Tesla Model Y Performance and upcoming Ford Mustang Mach-E GT; both mid-size electric SUVs can hit 100km/h in a claimed 3.7sec.

Replacing the rumbling 375kW 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that currently powers the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S, the next AMG GLC 63 S will be powered by a PHEV powertrain with three power sources developing a jaw-dropping 500kW.

The wild new German SUV’s twin electric motors will join forces with a circa-310kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine from the AMG A 45 hot hatch, generating enough thrust to potentially relegate Tesla’s ‘ludicrous’ mode to moderately outlandish.

Asked if the new-generation GLC, which arrives in Australia from March 2023, will get the full-blooded AMG 63 S treatment, Mercedes-Benz head of product management for the GLC range didn’t mince his words.

“I would say yes, definitely, because they’re so successful worldwide that you can also reckon there will be AMG versions [of the new GLC] coming later,” Axel Benseler told carsales.

The global GLC product chief all but confirmed the new mid-size luxury SUV will get the same supercar-slaying, tyre-shredding PHEV powertrain as the upcoming new C 63 super-sedan, most likely in wagon and ‘coupe’ forms once again.

Timelines for the preposterously powerful new Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 are less clear, but given the new 500kW Mercedes-AMG C 63 S is launching in late 2022 – roughly 18 months after the regular C-Class made its debut – the stove-hot new GLC 63’s ultra-wide rubber could hit the road by late 2023 or early 2024.

Mercedes-Benz vice-president for overall vehicle development, Jorg Bartels, explained it’s not a case of simply slotting the highly complex 500kW plug-in powertrain into new SUV.

“If it makes sense to fit those powertrains also for other models [we will do it], although the application is always different so from an engineering perspective it takes some effort to do that,” he said of AMG’s new plug-in hybrid powerplant.

Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts lamenting the switch to an all-four-cylinder future needn’t worry either, promised Bartels.

“Yes, we are still thinking about other six-cylinder versions as well, but it’s not decided yet,” he said, hinting at a new AMG GLC 53 variant powered by the brand’s electrified turbo-petrol inline six-cylinder. He also said there were no plans to axe V8s just yet either.

Given that Aussies buy AMGs in their droves, and Australia is among the top five – and sometimes top three – markets for AMG sales globally, expect to see pretty much every single new-generation AMG model become available in Australia, including the scorching new GLC 63 S.