Mercedes-AMG GT63 knocks Porsche 911 GT2 RS from its perch
600kW beast from Affalterbach clocks a new 0-100km/h record time of 2.76 seconds.
A plan was hatched. A team of the best of the best from the AMG Driving Academy, three half-decent driver/journalists, and an invaluable backup crew were going to invade Knysna with the latest in high performance Mercedes-AMG toys to attack the Simola Hillclimb with one goal in mind. Bring home the standard production road car, 2025 King of the Hill, title. Nothing less than a win would do.
And win they did, the fastest standard production road car up the hill this year was none other than AMG Driving Academy boss, Clint Weston, in the new Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance Coupe. But the team from Mercedes-Benz South Africa were not done. They were looking for more silverware for their trophy cabinet. One call later and the car that was fastest up the hill was on its way to Gerotek to see if it could become the fastest standard production road car The Citizen Motoring has ever tested in a straight line.
Gunning for Porsche's crown
To earn this title, the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance Coupe, would have to better Porsche's 911 GT2 RS' record-breaking run of 2.85 seconds to 100km/h that was achieved in 2021. A quick technical refresher. The Porsche 911 GT2 RS weighs in at only 1 470kg, and produces a crazy 515kW and 750Nm from its 3.8-litre flat six, bi-turbo set-up. This means this out and out super car has a mental power-to-weight ratio of 350kW per ton.
ALSO READ: Eight-cylinders return as Mercedes-AMG prices long awaited SL 63
Producing a combined 600kW of power and 1 420Nm of torque from its 4.0-litre V8 bi-turbo engine that is coupled to an AMG Electric Drive Unit, the claimed 0-100km/h number for the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance Coupe is listed as 2.8 seconds. And no Affalterbach series model has ever gone that quick before. Only one other car tested by our publication in over 25-years of road testing has gone under the three-second mark. The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance 4-Door ran a time of 2.96 seconds.
Ready to roll. Picture: Mark Jones
Acid test for Mercedes-AMG GT63
Despite being down 20kW and 50Nm, the Coupe derivative has lost two doors and 185kg of weight over its four-door sibling. The team from Mercedes-Benz South Africa were confident their new car could get the job done. But the first issue to contend with is that this AMG GT 63 Coupe still comes off the scales an almost incomprehensible 725kg heavier than the GT2 RS. But talk and claims are cheap, it's what happens on the day that counts.
Driving the car out to Gerotek left me in no doubt that this GT 63 S E Performance Coupe was the real deal and had a proper chance of bettering the 911 GT2 RS. But even though I have been doing this a very long time, there is no way I could off the cuff say that the Merc was going to be quicker than the Porsche. 2.85-seconds to 100km/h is seriously fast. With anticipation building, the Racelogic VBOX test equipment was loaded into the car and it was time to head down to the start line.
ALSO READ: VIDEO: New Mercedes-AMG C63 pips BMW M3 on the drag strip
Getting down to business
Race Start activated, foot on the brake, mash the accelerator pedal, and let go. The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance Coupe bolts off the line like its tail has just been stood on. Shrubbery, grass and tar merge into a blur as the speedo goes past 270km/h before I get on the carbon ceramic brakes at the 800m mark. Heart pounding, adrenalin rushing, the VBOX readout shows 2.86 seconds.
We haven't done it. It goes a bit quiet, we know we will do more runs. But all these super high-performance cars get hot under the hood quickly, and the numbers can go the other way. Is it over?
Back down to the start I go. Cut and paste the start procedure. Back on the brakes at the end. And as I roll into the pit area. It goes off like a cracker, we have a number of 2.84 seconds on the VBOX. It is done.
The GT 63 S E Performance Coupe has just become the fastest standard production road car we have ever tested. Albeit by a whisker. But a whisker is all that is needed for the record books.
ALSO READ: Learjet for the road Mercedes-AMG S63 shocks-up a luxury storm
Point proven
Obviously, we wanted to back this up, the Porsche did, so it was back down to the start again where things only got better as the tyres warmed up a little with all this winter cold around. A 2.82-second run was next, then a 2.78 and then 2.76. Were we going to see the records continue to tumble?
There is a new boss in time. Picture: Mark Jones
The short answer was no. The temps under the bonnet were now coming into play and the times started going back up. But I kid you not, the car did five runs in a row after this at 2.84-seconds. And that's when we decided we had proved our point. We were tempting fate by barrelling into the braking zone over and over again at 270km/h.
So, there you have it, the GT 63 S E Performance Coupe is the fastest standard production we have tested. The Porsche 911 GT2 RS does come back at it as we head further down the long straight at Gerotek, and it remains a do-or-die battle right till the end, but there can only be one King.
Mercedes-AMG GT 63 tests data
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The Citizen
14 hours ago
- The Citizen
Mercedes-AMG GT63 knocks Porsche 911 GT2 RS from its perch
600kW beast from Affalterbach clocks a new 0-100km/h record time of 2.76 seconds. A plan was hatched. A team of the best of the best from the AMG Driving Academy, three half-decent driver/journalists, and an invaluable backup crew were going to invade Knysna with the latest in high performance Mercedes-AMG toys to attack the Simola Hillclimb with one goal in mind. Bring home the standard production road car, 2025 King of the Hill, title. Nothing less than a win would do. And win they did, the fastest standard production road car up the hill this year was none other than AMG Driving Academy boss, Clint Weston, in the new Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance Coupe. But the team from Mercedes-Benz South Africa were not done. They were looking for more silverware for their trophy cabinet. One call later and the car that was fastest up the hill was on its way to Gerotek to see if it could become the fastest standard production road car The Citizen Motoring has ever tested in a straight line. Gunning for Porsche's crown To earn this title, the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance Coupe, would have to better Porsche's 911 GT2 RS' record-breaking run of 2.85 seconds to 100km/h that was achieved in 2021. A quick technical refresher. The Porsche 911 GT2 RS weighs in at only 1 470kg, and produces a crazy 515kW and 750Nm from its 3.8-litre flat six, bi-turbo set-up. This means this out and out super car has a mental power-to-weight ratio of 350kW per ton. ALSO READ: Eight-cylinders return as Mercedes-AMG prices long awaited SL 63 Producing a combined 600kW of power and 1 420Nm of torque from its 4.0-litre V8 bi-turbo engine that is coupled to an AMG Electric Drive Unit, the claimed 0-100km/h number for the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance Coupe is listed as 2.8 seconds. And no Affalterbach series model has ever gone that quick before. Only one other car tested by our publication in over 25-years of road testing has gone under the three-second mark. The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance 4-Door ran a time of 2.96 seconds. Ready to roll. Picture: Mark Jones Acid test for Mercedes-AMG GT63 Despite being down 20kW and 50Nm, the Coupe derivative has lost two doors and 185kg of weight over its four-door sibling. The team from Mercedes-Benz South Africa were confident their new car could get the job done. But the first issue to contend with is that this AMG GT 63 Coupe still comes off the scales an almost incomprehensible 725kg heavier than the GT2 RS. But talk and claims are cheap, it's what happens on the day that counts. Driving the car out to Gerotek left me in no doubt that this GT 63 S E Performance Coupe was the real deal and had a proper chance of bettering the 911 GT2 RS. But even though I have been doing this a very long time, there is no way I could off the cuff say that the Merc was going to be quicker than the Porsche. 2.85-seconds to 100km/h is seriously fast. With anticipation building, the Racelogic VBOX test equipment was loaded into the car and it was time to head down to the start line. ALSO READ: VIDEO: New Mercedes-AMG C63 pips BMW M3 on the drag strip Getting down to business Race Start activated, foot on the brake, mash the accelerator pedal, and let go. The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance Coupe bolts off the line like its tail has just been stood on. Shrubbery, grass and tar merge into a blur as the speedo goes past 270km/h before I get on the carbon ceramic brakes at the 800m mark. Heart pounding, adrenalin rushing, the VBOX readout shows 2.86 seconds. We haven't done it. It goes a bit quiet, we know we will do more runs. But all these super high-performance cars get hot under the hood quickly, and the numbers can go the other way. Is it over? Back down to the start I go. Cut and paste the start procedure. Back on the brakes at the end. And as I roll into the pit area. It goes off like a cracker, we have a number of 2.84 seconds on the VBOX. It is done. The GT 63 S E Performance Coupe has just become the fastest standard production road car we have ever tested. Albeit by a whisker. But a whisker is all that is needed for the record books. ALSO READ: Learjet for the road Mercedes-AMG S63 shocks-up a luxury storm Point proven Obviously, we wanted to back this up, the Porsche did, so it was back down to the start again where things only got better as the tyres warmed up a little with all this winter cold around. A 2.82-second run was next, then a 2.78 and then 2.76. Were we going to see the records continue to tumble? There is a new boss in time. Picture: Mark Jones The short answer was no. The temps under the bonnet were now coming into play and the times started going back up. But I kid you not, the car did five runs in a row after this at 2.84-seconds. And that's when we decided we had proved our point. We were tempting fate by barrelling into the braking zone over and over again at 270km/h. So, there you have it, the GT 63 S E Performance Coupe is the fastest standard production we have tested. The Porsche 911 GT2 RS does come back at it as we head further down the long straight at Gerotek, and it remains a do-or-die battle right till the end, but there can only be one King. Mercedes-AMG GT 63 tests data
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
600kW Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: Pricing and specs
Spearheading Mercedes-AMG's GT product portfolio, the GT 63 S E Performance has touched down on South African shores. Here's how much you can expect to pay for the German marque's barnstorming (600kW) two-door coupé. Looking for a new or used Mercedes-Benz? Find it here with CARmag! Touted as the fastest accelerating series-production Mercedes-AMG model to date, the GT 63 S E Performance was revealed in April 2024. Now, the pinnacle model in the Affalterbach-based brand's GT product portfolio has finally been unleashed in South Africa. Related: Review: Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Pro 4Matic+ The GT 63 S E Performance employs a plug-in hybrid powertrain comprising Mercedes-AMG's familiar 4l twin-turbocharged V8, which, here, has been tuned to produce 460kW and 850N.m of torque, and a 150kW/320N.m permanently excited synchronous electric motor. Power is sent to all four corners via the firm's nine-speed AMG Speedshift transmission. The apex two-door GT's petrol-electric setup produces a total system output of 600kW and a whopping 1 420N.m, allowing for a whip-crack claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 2.8 seconds. The company quotes a top speed of 320km/h. The GT 63 S E Performance is brought to a halt by fore and aft carbon-ceramic brake discs, measuring 420mm and 380mm in diameter, respectively. The braking setup further features six-piston front and single-piston floating rear callipers. The E Performance GT 63's electric motor is coupled with a 400V battery pack. According to the automaker, the 6.1kWh lithium-ion unit provides an electric-only operating range of 13km. The claimed average fuel consumption is 12.3l100 km. Related: Road Test Figures: Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance price in SA The flagship GT coupé is priced from R4 369 287. Pricing includes a five-year/100 000km maintenance plan as standard. Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance — R4 369 287 Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles with CARmag! The post 600 kW Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: Pricing and Specs appeared first on CAR Magazine. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
The Citizen
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Success story Suzuki Fronx departs without having made a fuss
After six months and more than 5 000 km, the time has come to bid farewell to our fuss-free long-term flagship Fronx GLX. The Citizen's six month with Suzuki's top-spec Fronx GLX has come to an end. Image: Rynhardt Steenkamp The Suzuki Fronx has been nothing short of a runaway success since its South African market arrival in the latter stages of 2023. Success after success In its first full year of sales last year, a total of 7 355 units departed dealership floors, with offsets this year so far amounting to 5 351 units – January being the only month where sales failed to breach the 1 000 mark. ALSO READ: Row-it-yourself Suzuki Fronx is great fun when you are in a hurry Although signalled out for its name, a combination of 'frontier next', the crossover stablemate of the Baleno has also outshone its rebadged Toyota sibling, the Starlet Cross, whose total sales for 2025 so far stand at 4 538 units. Initial worries… Hamstrung by demand outstripping supply in the early half of last year, the Fronx, made by Suzuki's Maruti division at its Ahmedabad plant, has maintained its popularity in spite of added criticism brought on by the lack of the turbocharged Boosterjet offered at home. A move that would most likely have driven pricing up significantly, the selection of the tried-and-tested normally aspirated 1.5 K15B petrol engine has been anything but a disaster, not only in power and torque delivery but also in fuel consumption. ..but a stellar companion Arriving towards the end of last year, The Citizen's long-term Fronx 1.5 GLX returned home last month after a prolonged six-month stay, during which a total of 5 724 km was added to the odometer. Often called on by other members of the editorial team for work commitments or out-of-province breaks away from the office, it garnered significant praise not only from a frugality standpoint, but also for its standard equipment that comes with its R342 900 price tag. Coupe-styled appearance looks stylish and sporty, but does impact on rear passenger headroom inside. Image: Rynhardt Steenkamp Its sticker having increased by R7 000 since its arrival, the Fronx's recent and most unusual task involved a trip to Gerotek where Road Test Editor Mark Jones put it against the clock. While initially a light-hearted evaluation considering the serious metal present on the day, the Fronx only got faster with each run as its engine, nicknamed by a fellow colleague as the 'mighty K15B', warmed up. GLX rides on neat looking 16-inch alloy wheels. Image: Rynhardt Steenkamp Despite the power sapping altitude of the Reef, the Fronx's counter, its kerb mass of 1 010 kg and slick five-speed manual, saw it dispatch the 0-100 km/h sprint in 12.2 seconds. Although highly unlikely to be subjected to a full-bore standing start by any buyer away from Gerotek, the Fronx's tenure went unblemished, though a few niggles prevailed. Yes and no Standard on the GLX, the fetching two-tone black-and-burgundy leather interior won't be to everyone's tastes, and while its minder appreciated the inherent sporty look, a traditional single black option will probably resonate better with the greater majority of buyers. Adhering to India's sub-four-metre regulations, the Fronx measures 3 995 mm long, 1 765 mm wide and 1 550 mm tall, with its wheelbase stretching 2 520 mm. While undramatically-sounding on paper, the coupe-esque sloping roof design robs rear passenger headroom to the point where taller folk will find a long journey uncomfortable despite legroom being more than sufficient. While the dual-tone black-and-burgundy leather won't be to everyone's taste, the interior felt sturdy and of good quality given the Fronx's price. Image: Rynhardt Steenkamp While the Grandeur Grey Pearl Metallic paint option didn't resonate much with yours truly on a personal level, the overall design wasn't hampered as much given how a colour can often make or break a vehicle's lasting appearance. Instead, it, arguably, stands out within Suzuki's product portfolio as the most striking and best looking product available. Mounted on 16-inch alloy wheels, the Fronx also has a rugged look thanks to its wheel arch cladding, silver door sills and imitation satin silver skidplates underneath the front and rear bumpers. Nine-inch infotainment system has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and never proved a chore throughout the six-month stay. Image: Rynhardt Steenkamp Often overlooked, the rear facia design is neatly executed with a rounded appearance and a slim light cluster connected by a full-width LED light bar. Opening the door, and bar the divisive the colour, the Fronx's Baleno roots results in an interior that is logically devised and well put together. While material quality, unsurprisingly, varies from soft-touch to hard-feeling plastics from surface to surface, everything else feels well screwed together as no rattles or squeaks developed throughout the six months. Only available on the GLX is a Head-Up Display. Image: Rynhardt Steenkamp As has been the payoff line of many Suzuki models, the GLX's level of equipment left little to be desired, especially considering its price. Besides automatic climate control with rear vents, a multi-function steering wheel and push-button start, the range-topping Fronx boasts a Head-Up Display and a 360-degree surround-view camera system as its specification headlights. Whereas the lower-rung GL makes do with a seven-inch infotainment system, the GLX nets the bigger nine-inch – also with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – which proved easy to scroll through in complete contrast to the overcomplicated setups of similarly priced Chinese products. One of the GLX's main drawing cards is the 360-degree camera. Image: Rynhardt Steenkamp Although an ergonomic success, an aspect of the interior that deteriorated over time was the front seats. Firm and comfy upon arrival, the cushions softened over time to the point where the seats felt under-bolstered and in need of more padding. Deep boot with a slightly high loading lip can accommodate 304-litres of luggage. Image: Rynhardt Steenkamp On the practicality side, the space constraints faced by rear passengers haven't made it to the Fronx's boot. As with the Baleno, the boot isn't aligned with the loading lip, the result being a deep recess capable of accommodating 304-litres. While unable to fold completely flat, lowering the rear frees up an additional 301-litres for a total of 605-litres. The 'mighty K15B' Behind the wheel, the Fronx feels engaging and, as Mark's figure proved, spritely considering its 15% power reduction at altitude. Again the result of its mass and light but direct manual gearbox, the K15B's 77kW/138Nm sounds comparatively meagre on paper, yet from low down, the Fronx pulls well and starts to get into its element higher up the rev range. Unsurprisingly buzzy at the national limit, given the number of ratios, the initial high-rev spike tapers off and, with a few hilly sections thrown in, will require dropping a few cogs to keep the engine on song. Front seat cushions have started sagging since taking delivery and will require improved bolstering to maintain long-term comfort. Image: Rynhardt Steenkamp Its ground clearance rivalling some SUVs at 170 mm, the Fronx doesn't feel top heavy and as such, comes with predictable handling, a soft ride that only becomes bouncy on coarse and badly maintained roads, and a light steering feel. The biggest highlight throughout the six months was, of course, fuel consumption. Fitted with a 35-litre tank, distances close on 600 km were often covered at a rate well below six-litres per 100 km. At its lowest, the trip computer often nudged five-litres per 100 km, yet was more inclined to hover around 5.4 or 5.5 L/100 km. Conclusion Straightforward simplicity without being spartan or dull has seemingly been the mantra of the Suzuki Fronx as it never put a foot wrong throughout it six month stay. Fronx has been a runaway success, with sales in 2025 getting closer to 5 000 units. Image: Rynhardt Steenkamp In fact, it often became a safe haven for being 'normal' from the array of high performance or overly technologically advanced vehicles it had to share the limelight with. A perfectly executed and superb value-for-money product, its goodbye has been a bitter one, but, unlike The Citizen, the latter won't be applicable to buyers who sign on the dotted line. NOW READ: Versatile Suzuki Fronx a willing runner that doesn't run out of puff
