Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe

Switching on the Mercedes AMG GLE 63 S Coupe is akin to a flight take-off sequence. While you principally thumb the starter button to bring to life the V8 biturbo engine under the hood, however getting it into a proper driving mode needs several more inputs.

- Bertrand D'souza

Type 3,982cc, V8 twin-turbo petrol

Max power 612PS@5,750-6,500rpm

Max torque 850Nm @2,500-5,000rpm

LxWxH (mm) 4,961 x 2,018 x 1,720

Price ₹2.42 crore (on road, Mumbai)

+ Responsive engine, sharp handling

- Gearbox could be quicker, car could be louder

You toggle the drive mode selector to get to sport mode, hit the exhaust button to open up the baffles, flip the suspension switch to get the correct damping, and then flip the transmission selector to get into manual mode if you think you know what you’re doing. It does not stop there. Next you go to the infotainment display, and on the home screen you slide through the menu’s to get to the AMG Race menu. Set up your telemetry. The only thing you don’t do is register your flight path with ATC. Now, take a deep breath, and floor the gas pedal. The GLE 63 S explodes, disgusting as it may sound, it even makes the hair in your nostrils stand at attention! I took my wife out for a spin in the AMG GLE 63 S, and all she could do was scream! Gratefully a sharper prod on the throttle drowned that noise out. This SUV is a beast, it looks like one, and behaves absolutely rabid. And no needle jab can cure you once bitten.

The GLE in stock form is MercedesBenz India’s highest selling SUV, and the AMG versions too have been blockbusters for the brand. Over the years there have been several variants introduced to the market, but the GLE 63 S is the most powerful of them all with all the trappings of a proper AMG sitting pretty high up the AMG pyramid. At an ex-showroom price a little over 2 crores it is also the most expensive GLE you can buy. Yet, price is inconsequential when you’re talking raw power and performance.