Mercedes-AMG GT63 Pro Tested: Both Wild and DocileJessica Lynn Walker - Car and DriverWildflowers don't last long in the desert. If you want to catch those ethereal blooms before they wither in the heat, you have to get there fast. Say, in something like the Mercedes-AMG GT63 Pro. With 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, plus all-wheel drive to keep you stable on sand-swept roads, the GT Pro can eat up desert highway quicker than the native sphinx moth caterpillars devour evening primrose.Okay, the GT63 Pro might have been overkill to chase superblooms. Even the base four-cylinder GT43 would be able to outrun a caterpillar, but there's something poetic about sending the muscled, twin-turbo V-8 of the GT Pro on a delicate mission of nature study. On the way, the long straights and mountain roads surrounding Borrego Springs, California, made the perfect testing grounds for a grand tourer with track aspirations.Jessica Lynn Walker - Car and DriverIt can be easy to forget that Mercedes has a long history of motorsports, since most of its passenger fleet leans toward cushy SUVs and executive electrics. Many are blisteringly fast, but the four-door configuration often blinds us to the performance. Not so the GT coupe. One look at its long hood, compact cabin, and tidy rear wing is an instant reminder that Mercedes's current dominance in Formula 1 is a historical norm, not a recent development.AdvertisementAdvertisementFor the GT63 Pro, Mercedes uses the same 4.0-liter V-8 that makes 577 horsepower in the regular GT63 and ups that by 26 horses. Such as all GT63s, the Pro gets AMG's Active Ride Control that hydraulically links the adaptive dampers at each corner, eliminating the need for a traditional anti-roll bar. Also carryover is the rear-wheel steering and all-wheel drive. The Pro adds carbon-ceramic brakes, plus additional driveline component cooling for track use as standard equipment. All of this is included in the base price, and aside from the useful front-axle lift ($1800), most of the options on our $216,910 test car were cosmetic, like yellow seatbelts ($300) to match its sunny paint, extra interior carbon fiber ($2850), and a microsuede headliner ($1600).Jessica Lynn Walker - Car and DriverGT spotters will notice larger side openings with directional slats alongside the toothy grille, as well as the jaunty rear wing on the truncated decklid. Other changes for the Pro are underneath, where the differentials and transfer case are liquid-cooled, and undertray fins direct air to the big brakes.The GT stayed cool and collected no matter how hot the temperatures rose around us in the desert, or how enthusiastic we got on the throttle. The V-8's roar is muffled by its turbo exhaust, but it pops discreetly on decel, and when those snorts and hiccups combine with the clatter of small pebbles flung from the GT's sticky (no-cost option) Michelin Pilot Cup Sport 2R tires, it makes for a decently racy soundtrack.Jessica Lynn Walker - Car and DriverAt the test track, the Michelins kept the Mercedes in a tight circle, pulling 1.11 g's on the skidpad. It's grippy when starting and stopping, too, taking only 2.6 seconds to get to 60 mph, clearing a quarter-mile in 10.8 seconds at a roaring 128 mph, and coming to a halt from 70 mph in a seatbelt-straining 137 feet. On the road, that means being able to take tight corners quicker than you'd expect from a 4272-pound machine. Exiting those twists is effortless at any speed, with torque for days and quick downshifts from the nine-speed automatic. The steering is excellent, nicely weighted but not heavy, but the brakes don't have the best feel. There is a moment of mush before their hard halt. Despite that, the test results demonstrate that in a panic stop, they do their job with impressive results.Jessica Lynn Walker - Car and DriverThe GT Pro is so unflappable at high speed that it seems pointless to ever slow down, but when the scenery or the fear of jail time reminds you to ease off, the Mercedes just rumbles along, unbothered, showcasing the benefit of a big V-8.AdvertisementAdvertisementAt lower speeds, windows down to appreciate the smell of sage and prickly pear, the Mercedesness of the GT comes into play. It's low-slung and stiffly sprung, but the seats (upholstered in $1900 black nappa leather and microfiber) are plush, and the adaptive suspension relaxes when it isn't being tossed around corners. The only way this sports car could be more comfortable would be if it offered massaging seats along with the kinetic seat movement and heated and ventilated seats.Jessica Lynn Walker - Car and DriverThe downside of the Mercedes interior is the big center screen, which dominates the small cabin, distracting from the excellent view of the GT's long nose stretching toward the horizon. The curse of the oversize extends to a fat steering wheel with haptic controls that will have you scrolling through display options every time you twitch your thumb. There are a lot of settings and a lot of ways to adjust those settings. It's visually and ergonomically crowded, although by current Mercedes interior standards, it's understated.Although the GT is considered a 2+2, the back seats, should you go for that no-cost option, are for emergency use only. Best to consider everything behind the driver and passenger as additional luggage space. The actual cargo room is pretty good at 11 cubic feet and deep enough for a real suitcase.Jessica Lynn Walker - Car and DriverThe GT Pro is not a cheap ride. It's thirsty too, returning 13 mpg during its time with us. It's a heavy car with a heavy price tag, and if you're shopping for a track toy, there are lighter and more affordable places to rest your helmet.AdvertisementAdvertisementIf, however, you're looking for a sports car that looks ferocious but can handle commuter tasks as easily as it can rip through a road course, while upping driver confidence without the complications of any hybrid add-ons, the GT Pro is the pick. That's a rare bloom these days and worth a drive to experience.Jessica Lynn Walker - Car and Driver➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Shop New Cars Shop Used CarsYou Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029