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Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance 2023.

With the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance 2023 model, the sports division of Daimler has begun a belated hybridization of its model lineup — we will see components of the power plant of the charged liftback, which received the factory designation P3, on other Mercedes-AMG cars with a longitudinal power unit.

The main difference between the hybrid scheme of Mercedes-AMG from that of its competitors (for example, the hybrid versions of the Porsche Panamera) is the electric motor, which is not integrated into the gearbox, but is attributed to the rear axle.

Typically, the electric motor on the rear axle is found in hybrids with a transverse arrangement of the engine and allow you to get all-wheel drive without mechanical connection of the engine to the rear wheels, but at the same time free up space in the floor for the battery, but the specialists Mercedes-AMG decided to be original and applied such a scheme for the longitudinal «bogie» MRA, while retaining the cardan shaft.

Removing the electric motor from the main gearbox (9-speed automatic AMG Speedshift with a single clutch) required an additional two-speed gearbox on the rear axle, which is combined into one unit with self-locking differential with electronic control.

All-wheel drive with the engine turned off is retained, but the front axle is connected through the transfer case and clutch only when necessary, that is, in the case of slipping of the rear wheels. Maximum output of the electric motor is 150 kW (204 hp) and 320 Nm.

The petrol engine is the same as the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4Matic+’s socket-less top version, which broke the Nurburgring’s record in the executive class last November: a 4.0-liter M177 bi-turbo eight (639 hp, 900 Nm) which has its own hybrid add-on in the form of a 14-hp starter generator.

The maximum combined power of the power plant is 843 hp and maximum torque — 1470 Nm.

Up to 100 km/h hybrid hatchback accelerates in 2.9 seconds, the maximum speed — 316 km / h (purely gasoline Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4Matic + has the corresponding figures are 3.2 seconds and 315 km/h).

The maximum speed when driving only on electric power is limited to 130 km/h.

400-volt lithium-ion battery is located above the rear power unit and seems to significantly reduce the already small trunk of sporty liftback — press-service of Daimler did not want to publish photos of the luggage compartment, the volume figures do not lead.

The battery capacity is small — 6.1 kW∙h (for comparison, the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid has 17.9 kW∙h), and therefore the electric range is short — only 12 km.

But the developers focus not on range, but on performance.

The battery is equipped with a unique cooling system: each of the 560 cells has individual channels of cooling fluid and the liquid itself depending on the battery heating is driven by an electric pump through a small or large loop, that is through a radiator in the front of the car.

No wonder that the coolant volume of a fairly compact battery is 14 liters.

The sophisticated cooling system allows the battery to have a constant power of 70 kW and a peak of 150 kW (for ten seconds), and regardless of external conditions maintain an optimal temperature around 45 degrees Celsius.

But even this cooling system does not allow to work long in the maximum recuperation mode (up to 100 kW), and therefore in the most hardcore driving program Race, the first, the lightest level of recuperation is automatically engaged of the three possible (there is also zero, that is without recuperation).

But the third level is useful for comfortable driving on ordinary roads, it allows you to control the speed with one pedal (gas pedal), the brake can not be touched.

Mercedes-AMG GT has in base a multimode adaptive air suspension and carbon ceramic brakes (diameter of front disks is 420 mm, rear ones are 380 mm).

There are almost no visual distinctions of hybrid liftback from pure gasoline cousin: slightly modified design of the front bumper, badges on the front wings, and a hatch for a socket under the right lamp.

In the cabin, of course, appeared hybrid «cartoons» on the screens of MBUX system and animated drive mode selection key.

On the straights, the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance will definitely be faster than the purely gasoline-powered Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4Matic+, but what about the corners?

Should we expect a new Nürburgring record? It is difficult to make a prognosis as it is not known how much the hybrid superstructure has increased mass of the liftback (the gasoline one has impressive 2120 kgs of curb weight).

Meanwhile, it is possible to achieve better performance without complex electrical components: Brabus removes from the engine M177 fierce 900 hp and 1250 Nm, allowing reducing acceleration time of Mercedeseske liftback up to «hundred» to 2,8 seconds and raise «maximum speed» to 330 km/h.

Telling the truth, such tuning is rather expensive (from 427 thousand euros), a stock hybrid, the price for which is not announced yet, will surely be cheaper — at least twice.