STUTTGART: Mercedes-AMG has revealed the new GLE 63 4MATIC+ Coupé, whose V8 engine has been electrified to be even more responsive
The AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine is paired with an EQ Boost starter-alternator and a 48-volt on-board electrical system to deliver an immediate response at start-up.
The base model delivers an output of 571hp, the S variant gets 41 horses more at 612hp. The 0-100kph dash is completed in 4s by the base model, with the S variant shaving off 0.2s. Top speed are 250kph and 280kph respectively.
The more powerful S variant.
The coupe features AMG RIDE CONTROL+ air-sprung suspension with AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL roll stabilisation on a 48-volt basis, a fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive and the AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G 9-speed automatic transmission.
The AMG-specific radiator grille comes in high-gloss chrome. As a typical feature of the Performance models, the front apron in a jet-wing design is painted in the vehicle colour and has black air intakes. royunded powerdomes in the bonnet and the front splitter in silver chrome emphasise the sharper coupé design all round.
The side skirts, exterior mirror housings and flared wheel arches are painted in the vehicle colour, and blend into the muscular look. The base model is shod with 21-inch light-alloy wheels with AMG lettering as standard, while the S variant comes with 22-inch wheels ex factory. Other wheel variants with diameters from 21 to 22 inches are optionally available.
The newly designed rear apron with AMG-specific details such as a striking diffuser in black and a trim strip in silver chrome highlight the vehicle’s width. The AMG exhaust system with two rectangular high-gloss chrome-plated twin tailpipe trim elements completes the sportily dominant look – the tailpipe trim elements on the S variant are differentiated by a fluted effect.
Further individualisation options are available in the AMG Night Package. This includes heat-insulating, dark-tinted windows and also the front splitter, front and rear apron trim, inserts in the side skirts, mirror caps and window frames in dignified black. In addition, the twin tailpipe trim elements are finished in elegant high-gloss black.
In the cabin, the AMG seats are upholstered in nappa leather and have an AMG-specific seat pattern layout with an “AMG” badge in the front backrests. Other leather variants are optionally available. The S variant is further identified by its grey seat belts and contrasting topstitching in the seats in silver grey. Individually adjustable ambient lighting comes as standard.
The three-spoke AMG Performance steering wheel is paired with aluminium shift paddles. In the base model the steering wheel rim is lined in black nappa leather, and in the S variant in nappa leather/DINAMICA microfibre, in each case with a black 12-o’clock marking. As a further option, there are the AMG steering wheel buttons for faster setting of relevant parameters.
The centre console includes an AMG-specific control unit with additional switches that are used to regulate the 3-stage ESP, the manual transmission mode, the Adaptive Damping System, the optional AMG Performance exhaust system and the vehicle level.
Alongside the AMG brushed stainless steel sports pedals with rubber studs, door sill panels and black floor mats with “AMG” lettering accentuate the sporty look. A wide range of interior trim elements is available to customise the interior. AMG trim elements in carbon fibre lend a sporty touch to the interior.
The EQ Boost starter-alternator combines a starter motor and an alternator in a single electric motor integrated between the engine and the transmission.
The additional 22hp of output plus 250 Nm of torque which can be called upon temporarily not only enable more spontaneous moving-off characteristics. This component supplies the 48-volt on-board electrical system, is used as a power generator and also performs hybrid functions. These include boost, recuperate, load point shift and the virtually imperceptible restarting of the engine with the start/stop function.
The AMG 4.0-litre V8 engine works with the well-proven twin turbocharging, where the two exhaust-gas turbochargers are arranged between the cylinder banks. The advantages of the “hot inside V” are the compact engine design and the immediate response of the exhaust-gas turbochargers. These are implemented using twin-scroll technology to make optimum use of the exhaust gas flow and improve the response even further.
For increased efficiency, Mercedes-AMG has also equipped the V8 engines with cylinder deactivation. In the partial-load range, cylinders two, three, five and eight are deactivated, which crucially reduces the fuel consumption.
When the driver has selected the “Comfort” drive program, the cylinder deactivation system is available in the wide engine speed range from 1000 to 3250 rpm. A special display in the instrument cluster indicates whether the cylinder deactivation system is in use and whether the engine is presently operating in four or eight-cylinder mode. The transition between these two operating states is said to be immediate, fast and torque-neutral.
In the more powerful S variant, the eight-cylinder has active engine mounts. They resolve the conflicting aims of achieving as soft a connection as possible to the powertrain for high comfort, and as rigid a connection as possible for optimum driving dynamics, by steplessly and quickly adapting their rigidity to the respective driving conditions.
Keyword: Electrified Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 4MATIC+ Coupé revealed