Mercedes-AMG GT 63 SE Performance

The most-powerful road-going AMG makes you look beyond superlatives

-  BENJAMIN GRACIAS

The ongoing battle between internal combustion engines and electric powertrains could be termed a battle for the soul. In the performance spectrum, electric cars are matching petrol-powered ones and in many cases, even outperforming them! However, try as hard as they may, EVs are yet to replicate the drama associated with high-performance petrol-engined cars. After all, isn’t it the visceral feel offered by a V8 petrol that makes performance cars special? However, global warming is real and there has to be some sort of sacrifice, some sort of compromise. Enter hybrid sportscars, a middle ground between ICE and EV performance cars. These vehicles set out to kill two birds with one powertrain: offer a reduced carbon footprint as compared to conventional sportscars and also unlock more performance from a ‘smaller’ motor. It is the latter I am more interested in, especially if it’s a car from Affalterbach and the ‘smaller’ motor in question is a 4.0-litre biturbo V8.

The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance is not only the first plug-in hybrid from the German marque, it is also the most powerful road-going AMG to date. That’s quite a feat given the lairy cars the boffins at Affalterbach conjure. But mind-numbing performance only tells you part of the story.