Price (as tested) đź’˛: $201,710
Powertrain ⚙️: Twin-Turbocharged 4.0-liter V8
Output đź’Ş: 630 hp/664 lb-ft of torque
Transmission đź•ą: 9-Speed Dual-Clutch Automatic
0-60 MPH 🚦: 2.9 seconds
Top Speed đź’Ą: 195 mph
MPG (as tested) ⛽️: 15 city/21 hwy/17 combined
Curb weight ⚖️: 4,682 lbs
We’re deep into the era of “coupe-ifying” all automotive segments, and I feel like a grouch.
Putting aside the Oxford definition of a coupe as a “fixed roof, two-door vehicle,” I just don’t understand the appeal of a 4-door with a sloping roof.
Decrease visibility and headroom. Charge more money.
This is the way.
The lone redeeming trait of a 4-door “coupe” is its hatchback (and some don’t even have that).
Big trunk openings afford easier loading of cargo, and – subjectively – make you feel special.
Yet alternative coupes are here to stay, and they give automakers an excuse to offer a higher performance model, alongside already sporty sedans.
Take the Mercedes-AMG GT63 S 4-Door Coupe (yes, that’s its full name).
AMG already has the 603-hp E63 S sedan, but that has to share a platform with much less exuberant E-Class trims.
The AMG GT, meanwhile, gets its own dedicated platform which, at lowest output, churns up 367 horsepower, and in 63 S form, unlocks 630.
The 63’s 4-liter twin-turbo V8 is a work of art that thunders from its display.
After entering a set of “cheat codes,” one can decouple the front axle to melt an unholy amount of rear rubber.
Adaptive air suspension, rear wheel steering, and a limited-slip diff keep momentum through corners.
It’s just such a heavy mother.
At just under 4,700 lbs, it’s more than 600 pounds heavier than my traditional sedan-bodied CT5 Blackwing.
There’s a big delta in luxury equipment and brand panache, but can those factors sufficiently rationalize the $80K price gap and decreased athleticism?
I’m not convinced.
The Mercedes-AMG GT63 S is brutally fast and commands respect – which I’ll give it…from behind the wheel of my 668hp, manual sedan.