2025 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 Coupe

Slowly but surely, Mercedes-AMG is phasing out its classic V8 engine. After the C63 sedan, the next victim is the AMG GLC 63 Coupe, a high-performance SUV that always sounded as venomous as it looked. The emotional character of the new one may be a question mark, but there will be no qualms about its tire-shredding capabilities. It matches the C63's immense outputs, hence the S E Performance designation; the new GLC 63 Coupe produces a combined 671 horsepower from its 2.0-liter turbo-four engine and electric motor, crushing the 503 hp of the V8 in the old 63 S. We've had a first look at the new Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 Coupe SUV, and all the usual AMG trimmings are present inside and out - but it is the powertrain that draws the most attention to the brand's first performance hybrid coupe-styled SUV.

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An exact release date for the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 Coupe is unknown, but it's set to arrive in the USA in 2024 as a 2025 model.

As with most things new in the automotive world, we can expect the cost of the price of the 2025 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 Coupe to rise. Exactly what that increase will be isn't known, but the previous GLC 63 S Coupe started at just over $85,000 when it was still on sale. Considering how much more powerful the plug-in hybrid GLC 63 will be, we expect an MSRP of over $90,000.

As before, this car's chief rival will be the BMW X4 M. The X4 has six-cylinder power but the specs suggest that the Mercedes will be quicker.

Updates to the exterior of the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 Coupe aren't excessive, but enough has been done for it to stand out as a more modern model. The overall shape isn't a drastic departure from the current model; it's still a brawny-looking SUV with AMG-specific details like the Panamericana grille and the four square exhaust pipes at the back. The sloping roofline is now familiar, and that leads to a sporty but not too outlandish rear spoiler.

The headlights retain a similar shape, but slight differences mean they look sleeker and a little more angular as they connect to the top corner of the grille. Large air inlets, vertical finds, and more flics identify this as an AMG model. The wheel arches are painted the same color as the rest of the car, and house wheels ranging in size from 19 to 21 inches. Michelin low-profile rubber was spotted on test mules, which will help the sporty crossover accelerate more quickly and handle sharply.

The most noticeable difference is at the rear, underneath that spoiler. Where the taillight clusters used to be large and set at each corner, the new model now has slimmer lights that are connected across the width of the trunk. We think the design works well, and there's a much sleeker, less chunky look to the car. The rear fascia is also updated with the number plate placement set lower down; a diffuser board is still present.

At this stage, the exterior colors for the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 Coupe aren't known, but we expect shades like Obsidian Black, Polar White, Cirrus Silver, and Brilliant Blue, with the necessary Manufaktur options for the more menacing look. There are various packages available to further customize the appearance of the GLC 63 Coupe, including the AMG Night Package and Night Package Plus, and the AMG Exterior Carbon Fiber Package.

The dimensions of the new Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 Coupe SUV show that it isn't too different in size from the outgoing model. The same 113.7-inch wheelbase forms the foundation, while the total length now comes in at 188.7 inches - almost an inch more than the old version. Width and height measurements for the 2025 GLC 63 Coupe are 75.6 and 63.1 inches, respectively.

There is one major downside to the new PHEV powertrain, though, and that relates to curb weight. We know that the new C63 sedan weighs over 700 pounds more than the previous V8 model, and assuming the same increase in weight for the GLC 63 Coupe, the new one could come in at between 5,200 and 5,300 lbs. That mass is bound to make its presence felt in the corners, but the Mercedes-AMG engineers have pulled off a few tricks in the chassis department to make this feel like a lighter vehicle than it actually is.

Like the previous V8-engined C63 and GLC 63 shared outputs, so too do the new-generation hybrid models. The engine setup 2025 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 Coupe generates 671 hp and 752 lb-ft of torque. Those are startling numbers from a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, but of course, they're boosted by the addition of an electric motor.

The four-pot makes 469 hp and 402 lb-ft on its own - claimed to be the most powerful series-production four-cylinder engine in the world - with the electric motor situated on the rear axle of the SUV, integrated with an electronically limited-slip rear differential. The electric motor has peak outputs of 201 hp/236 lb-ft. A nine-speed AMG Speedshift automatic transmission does duty, directing the considerable power to all four corners via the AMG Performance 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system.

An electrically-assisted exhaust gas turbocharger helps to reach performance specs like this - technology that has been derived from the tech used by the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team. The turbocharging setup improves the response from idle speed and throughout the whole rev range, and enables higher torque even at the lower end of the rpm range.

Since the GLC 63 is a heavy SUV, we didn't think it would match the C63 sedan's 3.3-second 0-60 time, but it comes close: the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 Coupe goes from 0-60 mph in just 3.4 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 171 mph. A Race Start function is standard.

Like the C63 sedan, the GLC 63 Coupe gets rear-wheel steering, eight drive modes, and even an Electric mode for covering short distances without the aid of the engine. In the GLC 63 Coupe, you also get three-stage AMG speed-sensitive steering. We're less convinced by the augmented acoustics with external speakers, something that the V8 model certainly didn't need, but it's par for the course these days.

The new Merc-AMG GLC 63 coupe-SUV comes with AMG Ride Control steel spring suspension with adaptive damping and three damper maps (Comfort, Sport, and Sport +). Active roll stabilization is also available to the GLC 63 S E Performance for superior cornering and reduced body roll.

To bring the GLC 63 S E Performance to a stop, the AMG high-performance composite brake system with 6-piston fixed calipers at the front and 1-piston floating calipers at the rear is standard.

With a plug-in hybrid system, half the displacement of the V8, and half the number of cylinders, it's natural to assume that the new AMG GLC 63 Coupe will be more efficient than before. However, we don't have any official gas mileage estimates. The 6.1 kWh lithium-ion battery used in the C63 does duty here, too, and we know that performance and not range is the goal, so this PHEV may not be much more economical than the V8 despite having a short all-electric range.

For reference, the previous GLC 63 Coupe with its V8 returned 15/22/17 mpg city/highway/combined.

We haven't had loads of insight into what's happening on the inside of the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 Coupe, but the press images we've seen of the AMG GLC 43 Coupe are a good guide. These show off a new infotainment interface, plenty of carbon fiber trim, a grippy Nappa leather/microfiber AMG steering wheel, and AMG-specific seats. The overall look is a significant upgrade.

The AMG seats in the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 Coupe are a highlight. They come with integrated headrests, thick side bolsters that should hold you in place at high cornering speeds, and bright-colored stitching. We have no doubt that other seating options will be available, though. The seats are wrapped in MB-Tex and microfiber as standard, with optional leather and Nappa with embossed AMG crests.

As with the standard GLC that was revealed last year, there is a new portrait-style infotainment touchscreen that is gently tilted in the direction of the driver. It measures 11.9 inches, and it's a layout that has been seen before in the newest S-Class. Running Merc's latest MBUX software, owners will have access to over-the-air updates, full smartphone integration, and voice controls. As this is an AMG model, we expect some version of Merc's Burmester sound system to be standard.

Complementing the central display is a digital gauge cluster that measures 12.3 inches with AMG-specific displays that provide the driver with information pertaining to the advanced PHEV drivetrain. One change over the normal GLC is the AMG rotary controller on the steering wheel, allowing for quick and convenient changes to the driving settings. AMG Track Pace data logging is standard, recording more than 80 vehicle-specific metrics per second.

Despite its sloping roofline, the previous GLC 63 Coupe still had a reasonably spacious interior, with acceptable second-row seating. We expect the interior of the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 Coupe to be relatively spacious, comfortable, and practical, with cargo space of 13.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats. Folding those down opens up a total of 47.1 cuves of space.