STUTTGART: Mercedes offshoot AMG has unveiled its first plug-in hybrid version of the four-door GT, increasing engine performance to dizzing new heights with electric assistance, albeit with an eyebrow-raisingly poor electric range for such a powerful hybrid.
The first plug-in hybrid from the Mercedes tuning workshop is a four-door GT badged as an E Performance and set to make its debut in at the IAA car show in Munich (Sept 7-12), the manufacturer says.
The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E PERFORMANCE draws on technologies from Formula 1. The concept includes a distinctive drive layout with electric motor and battery on the rear axle as well as a high-performance battery developed in-house.
It can race from a standstill to 100kph in under 3 seconds, just don't expect it to take you across town on battery power alone - this car is all about muscle and not efficiency.
A market launch is set to follow in the coming months, but a price has not yet been announced.
The makers are relying on a completely new powertrain for this part-time electric, only recognisable from the outside by fancy new trim panels and matching nameplates.
AMG is installing its own high-performance battery, which is capable of delivering power particularly quickly thanks to a new type of direct cooling. And for the 205hp electric motor, there's a two-stage transmission, unlike in the EQS.
Combined with the familiar 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine with 639hp, the output rises to a muscular 843hp - in other words, the most powerful road-legal AMG car to date.
Needless to say, driving performance is set to be impressive. When both engine and motor work in tandem, they thrust the driver into the seat with up to 1,470Nm of torque and accelerate this luxury car weighing over two tonnes from 0 to 100kph in 2.9 seconds.
AMG puts top speed at a heady 316kph.
The electric drive is designed more for power than efficiency, however, and because the battery only has a capacity of 6.1 kWh, the electric-only range is rather underwhelming at just 12km.
The hybrid approach could also do better when it comes to consumption levels, and AMG have managed a drop to just 8.6 litres (CO2 emissions: 196 g/km).
