POWER broker: Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance driven
In reverse power order, there's the six-cylinder 48V mild-hybrid CLE 53 AMG with 330 kW and 600 Nm. Then the AMG SL 63 Roadster (non-hybrid) twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8, good for 430 kW and 800 Nm. And finally, the top dog Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance with a scarcely believable 600 kW and 1 420 Nm of torque, aided by a 6.1 kWh plug-in battery on top of its twin-turbo V8. So, let's get driving … The fixed rear wing, 21-inch wheels and more aggressive bodywork takes the AMG GT's aesthetics up a notch. Image: Mercedes-Benz Press
We pull hard through a series of sweeping bends towards a tight hairpin surrounded by unforgiving rock. Ahead of me is the SL 63 Roadster, which is certainly no hairdryer with its force-fed V8 guffawing at maximum voice. I've got the best bucket seat in the house as we attack the famed coast road that once played host to the Mercedes SLR world launch. Double-clutch transmissions rata-tata up and down shifts like a pair of intoxicated drum majorettes …
Our duo roars in happy unison in the damp conditions, until the SL enters the next hairpin too cautiously and I line up alongside. The road is clear of traffic all the way around, so I squeeze the throttle and trust the Michelin Cup rubber is warm enough to grip up. Boy, does it ever! The electric-boosted Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance performs its teleportation trick and I slingshot tens of metres ahead in the blink of an eye. I drop anchor hard in the next hairpin with the standard carbon ceramic brakes and shove my surrounds into reverse. This gains me yet more distance on my open-top pursuer. This is exciting! Any worries the new-generation AMG GT would be too soft has been well and truly eliminated. Image: Mercedes-Benz Press
Beyond the awe-inspiring figures – zero to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and 320 km/h plus top speed, the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance is simply a joy to drive. It clings hard to the tarmac with active aerodynamics, in the form of a movable front chin spoiler. There is a multi-mode traction control system so you can dial in just the right amount of electronic aid for the conditions. And rear-wheel steering helps pinch your line in tight corners and stabilise the chassis in the fast stuff.
Now, in clear air with glorious open road ahead, I pin the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance's ears back. I trust the brute and I'm well and truly up to speed. The steering in Race mode is tight, suspension taut like a freshly tuned guitar string. We flow like electrified mercury, with speed and physics my guide. And allow me to report that the combination of twin-turbo V8 with instant electrical assistance on throttle is simply incredible. There is no lag, no hesitation, and all the while it's as if the drivetrain is pure and naturally aspirated. Yet, the savagery underfoot matches that of battery electric acceleration. Wow, just wow, what a piece of engineering, Affalterbach. The only part of the AMG super sports car most will get to see on the road. Image: Mercedes-Benz Press
At the end of the pass, adrenalin purged, we pull over for some photography with the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance and vanquished SL 63 sister. Together, their AMG Panamericana grilles, long forward prow and cabin-back stance are unmistakably attractive. The high-tech, opulent cabins are wonderful, too, with more computing power on board than a space agency. Of course, they've shared a platform since the last AMG GT and both therefore qualify as ultimate dream cars.
The SL 63 is for the exhibitionist in you and the Mercedes AMG 63 is if you love playing g-force dodgems with your internal organs. However, amongst their overflowing bag of talents, I'd proffer the real takeaway is how unintimidating they are to drive in every-day conditions. The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance shows that electrification isn't something to shy away from. It can be utilised for all the right reasons in a super-sports-car application. And by Jove, if you could just keep it out of Race mode, it would be darn economical, too. Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance (600 kW & 1 420 Nm) – R4 369 287
Mercedes-AMG SL 63 Roadster (430 kW & 800 Nm) – R3 943 156
Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid (450 kW & 750 Nm) – R2 499 596
Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 (330 kW & 600 Nm) – R2 065 982
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news. Pic: Peter Frost
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TimesLIVE
9 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Piastri takes dominant sprint pole in Belgium
Formula One leader Oscar Piastri took pole position for the Saturday sprint by nearly half a second at the Belgian Grand Prix while McLaren teammate and title rival Lando Norris qualified third. Red Bull's reigning champion Max Verstappen will join Piastri on the front row for the first race since Christian Horner was dismissed as team boss and replaced with Laurent Mekies. Piastri lapped the Spa-Francorchamps circuit with a best time of 1:40.510 seconds, 0.477 seconds quicker than Verstappen and 0.618 clear of Norris. The Australian is eight points clear at the top after 12 of 24 rounds. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc starts fourth but teammate Lewis Hamilton will line up 18th after a difficult afternoon for the seven times world champion, whose most recent win came at the same circuit last year with Mercedes. The Briton spun on his last flying lap while on course to go through, with the suspicion falling on a failure of the car's rear axle. George Russell, who finished first last year for Mercedes but was then disqualified for an underweight car, also struggled and qualified 13th.
The South African
10 hours ago
- The South African
What time does the Belgian Grand Prix start on Sunday?
The 2025 Formula One season will feature 24 races, the 13th of which will take place in Belgium on Sunday, 27 July. The next battle in the race for the drivers' title will take placed on the famed Spa-Francorchamps. The lights will go out at 15:00 (SA time). Thanks to his five wins in the opening 12 races, McLaren's Oscar Piastri leads the way from team-mate Lando Norris (four wins), with Max Verstappen in third place (two wins). Mercedes' George Russell is the only other driver to have won a race this season. Piastri has 234 points, ahead of Norris (226). Verstappen is in third (165), ahead of Russell in fourth (147). As a reminder, the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix was won by Lewis Hamilton in his then Mercedes, ahead of Piastri with Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc in third. All times SA Friday, 25 July Practice 1: 12:30 – 13:30 Sprint qualifying: 16:30 – 17:14 Saturday, 26 July Sprint: 12:00 – 13:00 Qualifying: 16:00 – 17:00 Sunday, 27 July Main race: 15:00 Drivers Rank Driver Points 1 Oscar Piastri 234 2 Lando Norris 226 3 Max Verstappen 165 4 George Russell 147 5 Charles Leclerc 119 6 Lewis Hamilton 103 7 Kimi Antonelli 63 8 Alex Albon 46 9 Nico Hulkenberg 37 10 Esteban Ocon 23 11 Isack Hadjar 21 12 Lance Stroll 14 13 Pierre Gasly 19 14 Fernando Alonso 16 15 Carlos Sainz 13 16 Liam Lawson 12 17 Yuki Tsunoda 10 18 Oliver Bearman 6 19 Gabriel Bortoleto 4 20 Franco Colapinto 0 21 Jack Doohan 0 Rank Constructor Points 1 McLaren 460 2 Ferrari 222 3 Mercedes 210 4 Red Bull 172 5 Williams 59 6 Sauber 41 7 Racing Bulls 28 8 Aston Martin 36 9 Haas 29 10 Alpine 19 Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
11 hours ago
- The South African
The LEGEND electrified: Mercedes-Benz G580 EQ review
It's entirely fair to say the Mercedes-Benz G580 EQ is not what we were expecting. Based on the brand's other EQ electric cars we've reviewed, we had a radically futuristic vehicle in mind. And frankly, we were concerned about how electrification would gel with the legendary G-Class off-roader. You see, there's always been something profoundly moving about sliding behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon. It's all the little details that matter. The clickity-clack of the doors, the bolt-upright windshield, the pitch, roll and yaw as you coerce the body-on-frame chassis. All of these things are what makes a G-Wagon. The Edition One gets all the available extras for R4 million. That's still cheaper than if you specced them all yourself on a regular G-Class. Image: Ray Leathern However, the Mercedes-Benz G580 EQ is a G-Wagon that's been future-proofed. As you approach the vehicle there's a unique hum from its pre-cooling fans. It sounds more like a maniacal digeridoo in the Australian outback and it is a strange first introduction. Then again, the three electric motors waiting to unleash their fury do need special treatment. So, let's talk numbers, because they do tell a compelling story. The Mercedes-Benz G580 EQ packs a 116-kWh battery feeding three electric motors. Collectively these produce 432 kW (580 horsepower as per the naming convention) and a whopping 1 164 Nm of torque. Weight wise, yes, the electric G is a hefty old hector – weighing in at 3 085 kg, which is 445 kg more than an equivalent G63 AMG. What goes fast and silently, must also be recharged, often for quite a few hours. Image: Ray Leathern Despite its three-tonnes, zero to 100 km/h sprints are dispatched in a mere 4.7 seconds. Range-wise, Mercedes-Benz claims around 450 km, although after a recharge to full, the real-world figure was closer to 375 km. As far as recharging goes, the Mercedes-Benz G580 EQ can accept a maximum charge of 200 kW. Which would enable 80% replenishment in just 30 minutes. Of course, nowhere in South Africa offers such ferocious power. So, you will need to exercise patience when using a typical 11 kW AC home charger, which will take 11 hours. Moreover, we attempted to recharge at a 40 kW DC public charger, only to find it was operating at no more than 20 kW. Another lengthy wait ensued. Misguided G-Wagon diehards might not like to hear it, but the G580 EQ is a worthy addition to the G-Class range. Image: Ray Leathern Nevertheless, charging aside, what really leaves its mark is how utterly familiar the Mercedes-Benz G580 EQ feels. This isn't some radical departure from G-Wagon orthodoxy, but rather an evolution that honors decades of rich heritage. We've been lucky enough to drive all kinds of G-Wagons over the decades. We've conquered Mount Schockl in Austria, wheels spinning on loose gravel as we clawed our way up impossible gradients, and then ate schnitzels to celebrate. There's the spartan Professional version that we criss-crossed South African with. Its bare-bones interior and mechanical simplicity is still one of our absolute favourite G-Wagons ever. And of course, a series of glittering, high-powered AMG variants over the years are more Hollywood Rodeo Drive than Tankwa Karoo. Each iteration writes a unique chapter but is imbued with the same bullet-proof DNA. Besides a bit of blue lighting, the G580's interior is identical to that of a regular G-Class. Image: File Now, the Mercedes-Benz G580 EQ reaches for an entirely new world. And yet, the cabin and controls are blissfully familiar. If you've driven a G-Wagon in the last century, you'll feel immediately at home. The user experience remains refreshingly analog despite the high-tech underpinnings. There's no need to decipher cryptic menus. Engage Drive, point the wheel where you want to go, and the G580 simply goes. Just as before, three differential locks and low-range transfer case remain (electric, of course) operated via similar buttons on the facia. Even its approach and departure angles are unchanged. There's 850 mm of wading depth, 250 mm of ground clearance and approach/departure angles of 32 and 30.7 degrees, respectively. Crucially, the Mercedes-Benz G580 EQ's battery pack sits low in the chassis, protected by a 26 mm carbon plate. This fundamentally alters the vehicle's center of gravity … for the better! Where conventional G-Wagons are top-heavy, prone to the body roll, pitch and yaw, the electric G580 does none of that. Its lateral stability and immediacy when changing direction is truly remarkable. Cleverly, that's not the spare-wheel compartment but where you store your charging cables. Image: Ray Leathern For existing G-Wagon owners/fans, as radical as it may be, the Mercedes-Benz G580 EQ actually represents continuity rather than revolution. It delivers the same commanding presence, go-anywhere capability and luxury appointments, but with all the refinement that comes from electric propulsion. And it is this seamless, surprising integration that is the G580's greatest achievement. In an era when electrification often means a radical departure, the Mercedes-Benz G580 EQ has retained everything that made it great while adding a new raft of benefits. Trust us, if you're already part of the G-Wagon family, the G580 will slip into your life perfectly seamlessly. It's the same vehicle you know and love, just more capable than ever before. Mercedes-Benz G580 EQ Edition One Battery: 116 kWh 116 kWh Transmission: Three electric motors and 2-spd auto Three electric motors and 2-spd auto Power: 432 kW 432 kW Torque: 1 164 Nm 1 164 Nm 0-100 km/h: 4.7 seconds (claimed) 4.7 seconds (claimed) Consumption: 33 kWh/100 km (tested) 33 kWh/100 km (tested) Price: R4 647 456 Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
