Mercedes-Benz GT63
How it looks when you see it on the street: First, let’s talk about what you’re looking at — the creme de la creme of the AMG brand. AMG is the performance arm of Mercedes-Benz. It’s the division that overlaps with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 racing program. AMG dates back to the late ‘60s and two passionate engineers — Aufrecht and Melcher —who had ties to the German village Großaspach – the inspiration for the AMG initials. Its roots were in tuning and tweaking racing engines, when Mercedes-Benz acquired it officially and built it out as a legit car brand.
In that tradition, the second-generation AMG-GT 63 is a statement making super car that has some true practicality for touring and traversing on the track and around town. It’s also a close cousin to the convertible Mercedes-AMG SL. We drove around with a ton of sports gear commuting on long stretches of open highway. It’s a best of all the worlds performer, if you need exactly four seats. Our test car was canary yellow and oozed sunshiny fun. Its proportions are distinct and borrows from previous AMG styling. The prominent grille has pinstripes and a large Mercedes-Benz emblem — perfect for AMG Petronas F1 fans.
How it makes you feel when you get in: Like a performance driver primed for duty defined around its 12.3 inch infotainment screen and snug body hugging seats. The cockpit screen feels like it’s ready for takeoff. It’s equipped with onboard wifi, too, in addition to wireless Apple CarPlay. The offset to all the intel is a complex setup. Materials are choice and well appointed. Lots of helpful safety tech is on board like blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert.
How it drives: Its big bad engine is a 4.0-liter V-8 that makes the same 577 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque that translates to a 0 to 60 mile per hour zoom of about 3 seconds. Don’t blink. Driving it to its raucous edge changes some of the smooth cruising elements — it’s a heavy ride with a lot of weight to maneuver.
Space for people and things: For this segment, size, and class the GT63 scores big points, particularly in the trunk --- perfect for weekends away and an active lifestyle.
What should you compare it to: Porsche Panamera, Audi RS7, BMW M5.
How much does it cost: This big bad performer is in the $190,000 range.