Mercedes-AMG goes plug-in hybrid with the 4-door GT pompously called 63 SE Performance. Developing a cumulative power of 843 hp thanks to a V8 associated with an electric motor located at the rear, the car goes from 0 to 100 km / h in 2.9 seconds.
It was to take the name 73rd, ultimately, the plug-in hybrid version of the Mercedes-AMG 4-door GT recently restyled will be called 63 SE Performance. But whatever, the main thing is under the engine hood: the V8 4.0 biturbo.
The power of the plug-in hybrid
Mercedes-AMG enters the era of electrification with this variation. The 639 hp V8 biturbo 4.0 is associated with an electric motor placed on the rear axle and developing 150 kW (204 hp). The assembly thus displays a cumulative power of 843 hp for a torque of up to 1,470 Nm. Enough to go from 0 to 100 km / h in 2.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 316 km / h. An alternator-starter is also associated with the V8, and provides a power of 10 kW in order to generate energy for the on-board accessories such as the air conditioning when stopped, for example, and when the high-voltage battery is no longer sufficient. loaded.
A two-speed gearbox
Note that if the thermal block is associated with a 9-speed automatic transmission, the electric machine is coupled to a two-speed electrically controlled gearbox. The “second” is thus passed to 140 km / h, at the latest, ie at a speed of 13,500 rpm. An electronic limited-slip differential is also available at the rear. Despite its positioning on the rear axle, the electric motor can transfer its torque to the front wheels.
To be tuned like an F1
The car has seven driving programs (Electric, Comfort, Sport, Sport +, Race, Slippery road, Individual). Note that Electric mode operates between 0 and 130 km / h, but as mentioned above, 4MATIC + all-wheel drive is still available. These modes act, as always on the response to the accelerator, the direction, the gearshifts of the gearbox, the damping or even the sound. A specific button on the steering wheel allows you to select the one of your choice. The electric motor can also take over from the ESP by regulating the traction of a wheel. The new air suspension can also be finely tuned. The AMG RIDE CONTROL + system features automatic level control as well as electronically controlled adaptive damping. This item can be set in five modes (Basic, Advanced, Pro and Master). The latter is necessarily associated with the Race driving program. As for the carbon-ceramic brake system, it consists of 420 x 40 mm discs combined with 6-piston calipers at the front and 380 x 32 mm with 1-piston claw calipers at the rear.
A battery made for performance
The electric motor is powered by a battery with a capacity of 6.1 kWh providing a continuous power of 70 kW, for a peak power of 150 kW. In this high performance version, Mercedes-AMG did not seek autonomy (12 km announced), but the ability to rapidly absorb and produce energy. The driver has four energy recovery modes, plus one associated with the Race driving program.
The Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door 63 SE Performance will be presented to the public at the Munich Motor Show (September 7-12). It will be marketed immediately.
