How Fast Is 2023 Mercedes-AMG GT? Can It Run On Full-Electric Mode?

When the performance boffins at 2023 Mercedes-AMG GT revealed plans of unveiling its first E Performance hybrid car, we were expecting a grand-touring sports car like the next-generation SL, or maybe a supercar like the Mercedes-AMG One. As it turns out, Mercedes-AMG GT as a first hybrid-performance vehicle is a four-door saloon based on the GT four-door.

What is the Mercedes-AMG GT?

The Mercedes-AMG GT is the range-topping sports car in the Mercedes-Benz lineup. Available since 2016 as a two-seat coupe, the nameplate expanded to include a roadster body style in 2018 and a sleek four-door sedan in 2019. Combining a generously sized cabin with top-notch interior materials and a sublime driving experience, the AMG GT is one of the most well-rounded sports cars on the road. Until now, however, buyers have had to choose between a fuel-efficient yet underwhelming V6 or a thirsty but awesome V8. New for 2023 is a powertrain that offers the best of both worlds.

Available only on the sedan body style, the 2023 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance pairs the twin-turbo V8 found on the most potent trims with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The rear-mounted electric motor is fed by a rather small 6.1-kWh battery pack, and the 7 miles of range quoted by Mercedes (following the European WLTP testing standard) is a joke if you think of this vehicle as a traditional PHEV. Rather, the AMG GT 63 S E Performance is geared toward using every bit of that battery as a speed booster. The motor develops 201 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque on its own, with the engine and motor combining to produce a total of 831 hp and a staggering 1,033 lb-ft.

Mercedes says this model will rocket from zero to 62 mph in 2.9 seconds, or 0.2 second quicker than the non-hybrid AMG GT 63 S. We also expect fuel economy ratings to improve slightly, but don’t set your sights too high. The PHEV is still tuned for performance, after all, though you could conceivably make a run to the grocery store without tapping into that V8.

2023 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: Formula 1 Hybrid Technology

We’ll do our best to make it simple since talking about a Mercedes-AMG car is like reading the engineering blueprint for some advanced, futuristic machinery. The newest 2023 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance utilizes learnings acquired from the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, the same F1 team headed by seven-time World Driver’s Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton.

It has a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 gasoline engine in the front and a single electric motor in the back. The gas engine produces 639 horsepower and 664 lb-ft. of torque, the latter arriving from 2,500 to 4,500 rpm. Meanwhile, the rear-mounted electric motor contributes 204 horsepower and 236 lb-ft. of torque.

Do the math, and the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance has a combined output of 843 horsepower and a bewildering 1,033 lb-ft. of torque. The gas engine has a nine-speed MCT automatic transmission, while the rear electric motor has a two-speed automated gearbox with an electronic limited-slip rear differential.

The rear electric motor is connected directly to the rear wheels for instantaneous throttle response. And despite this complexity, 2023 Mercedes-AMG GT came up with a fully variable all-wheel drive system with mechanical connections between front and back via a propeller shaft and the driveshafts in the front wheels.

How Fast Is AMG GT 63 S E Performance?

With 843 horsepower and all that available torque, the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance is faster than stink. Mercedes-AMG claims zero to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and zero to 125 mph in under 10 seconds. Moreover, the automaker claims powerful acceleration is present until its 196 mph top speed, which is mind-boggling.

Can It Run On Full-Electric Mode?

Yes, but only for seven miles, just enough not to wake up your neighbors in the morning as you depart in your V8 hybrid Mercedes. The GT 63 S E Performance has a modest 6.1 kWh battery pack mounted near the electric motor. It may be small, but the high-density battery enables 70 kW of continuous output and 150 kW of peak output for 10 seconds.

As you figured out by now, 2023 Mercedes-AMG GT chose this battery for its low weight (196 lbs.) and fast power delivery rather than allowing the highest possible all-electric range. If you think this is unacceptable, nobody’s stopping you from getting a Toyota Prius Prime.

If the battery runs out of juice, you can charge it via a 3.7 kW onboard AC charger using a charging station, wall box, or conventional household socket. The batteries are cooled individually by non-conductive fluid to offer optimum power delivery when you need it most.

Seven Driving Modes

Really, how many driving modes do you need in a hybrid GT car? As it turns out, the answer is no less than seven. The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 E Performance starts silently in Electric mode, and the motor has enough oomph to motivate the car up to 80 mph from a standstill. If the rear wheels are slipping, the AWD system can transfer electric driving torque to the front wheels without waking up the engine.

Next is Comfort mode that allows for all-electric driving at low speeds and hybrid driving on the highway. Meanwhile, Sport mode enables the V8 engine and electric motor to work in tandem, while Sport+ mode offers more boost from the electric motor. But if you find yourself on an empty racetrack, Race mode pre-configures all the algorithms to maximum attack while unleashing a full-electric boost from the rear-mounted electric motor.

In addition, Slippery mode reduces the power output and coaxes the powertrain to deliver a flat torque curve. Lastly, Individual driving mode allows you to customize the transmission, chassis, steering, and exhaust system.

Pricing & Availability

The latest Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance Hybrid will arrive at U.S. dealerships in late 2022 as a 2023 model. Pricing, trim details, and the official U.S. specs remain forthcoming, but we have no doubt this car will command a six-figure price tag.

2023 Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe Spied In More Potent Specification

Mercedes unveiled the new AMG-developed SL Roadster at the end of October 2021 and we didn’t have to wait a long time to see its coupe sibling. The version with a fixed metal roof was caught testing out in the cold last week, and now our spies are back with more interesting spy shots. While the first prototype was likely a six-cylinder version judging by the round exhaust tips, today we’re dealing with a V8 model.

A quick look at the back reveals the angular quad exhausts we’ve seen already on the new SL with its twin-turbo V8. The 4.0-liter engine makes 476 horsepower (350 kilowatts) in the “55” model and 585 hp (430 kW) in the flagship “S63.” We’re expecting identical figures for the next-generation AMG GT Coupe. However, the three-pointed star could decide to spice up the coupe later in its life cycle, culminating with a new Black Series.

Is the AMG GT hard to drive?

Driving it normally is no harder than any other car, the controls are essentially identical to any other Mercedes. Driving it to anything approaching its limits is a very different thing. Driving it normally is no harder than any other car, the controls are essentially identical to any other Mercedes.

Is the AMG GT reliable?

It’s difficult to establish reliability data on a car that sells in small numbers and at a high price, so the AMG GT didn’t feature in our last reliability survey. Mercedes as a brand finished in a rather disappointing 23rd place out of 31 manufacturers in the survey, though.

Is the AMG GT a supercar?

The AMG GT S is a modern supercar and nowhere is this modernity more evident than in its engine design. Powering the car is a twin-turbocharged 4.0L V8 engine producing 503 hp.

What does AMG GT stand for?

AMG stands for Aufrecht Melcher Grossaspach. The first two letters come from AMG founders Hans-Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher. The third letter comes from Grossaspach, their birthplace. GT stands for grand tourer.