Jaguar F-Pace SVR
spy shots from a couple of weeks back? Mercedes has beaten Jag in the chase to offer a V8 in a small(ish) SUV with this, the AMG GLC63. There's a GLC63 Coupe too, but we'll deal with that in a sec.
Lots of letters, lots of power, lots of everything
The spec of the regular GLC is as we've come to expect from the V8 AMG products of late, and none the worse for it. The twin-turbo 4.0-litre 'hot-V' engine will be offered with either 476hp as standard or as a 510hp S, with either a mechanical limited-slip diff (standard) or electronically controlled (S) for the rear wheels. It's four-wheel drive and employs the three-chamber adaptive air suspension as used so successfully in
the E63
, though there's no mention of a drift mode just yet... Also familiar from other products are the nine-speed automatic transmission (E63), a bespoke AMG rear axle (also E63, but first seen on the
C63 Coupe
) and the AMG Dynamic Select with Race mode seen on, well, all of them basically.
As mentioned though, hardly a bad thing given how fantastically well the technology has worked elsewhere. No performance figures - beyond a 155mph limited top speed - have yet been released, though a 0-62mph time beginning with a four seems likely. There's probably a daft Nurburgring time to follow as well. Perhaps the key stat though is that power output; even as standard that's 36hp above even a Macan Turbo Performance, but then there will hopefully be the Stelvio Quadrifoglio along soon too...
Until then the GLC looks to have this sector of the super SUV market to itself, but without shouting too much about the fact. Sure, there's the Panamericana grille from the AMG GT, plus wider arches and more aggressive bumpers, but it's far from in your face. There's even just the two exhaust pipes, though the noise - especially with the optional Performance exhaust - will surely be anything but subtle.
One way to split 1,000hp between two cars...
And anyway, if you want something more - how to phrase this correctly - confident, there's the GLC63 Coupe. It gets the same visual makeover, including a front splitter without a grille so you can peer at all the cooling gubbins, as well as the same two engine choices. Here you can see as a Coupe the Edition 1 GLC63 as well, drawing on
previous Ed 1s
like the C63 and boasting equipment like 21-inch forged wheels with yellow "rim flanges", an Aerodynamics pack inspired by motorsport, yellow highlights throughout and the AMG Night Package. It will be offered in both bodystyles too, if the Coupe is a bit much...
Mercedes says the GLC63 will make its debut this month, so next week's New York show would be the logical place to launch it, ahead of sales commencing in June. Prices are still to be announced, though it's worth noting that the gap between AMG C43 and AMG GLC43 is just over £3,000 (£45,905 v. £48,960). If a similar premium is applied to the V8 GLC, it will cost from about £65K. Let's wait and see!