First Drive: The New Mercedes-AMG GT Is an 805 HP Hybrid Beast Disguised as a Grand Tourer

Traditionally, hybrids have been an answer to the question of how to get the flexibility of internal-combustion motoring along with some of the benefits of electrification. But, increasingly, hybrids are becoming the answer to a very different sort of question: How do I get even more power from my high-performance cars without adding displacement? 

For Mercedes, the answer is the 2025 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance, offering an additional 228 hp compared to the non-hybrid GT 63 S. A total system output of 805 hp and 1,047 ft lbs of torque is supercar-level muscle, managed by a nine-speed automatic transmission. That all of that is available in a comfortable and practical grand tourer makes this car properly impressive, but it isn’t without its flaws.

The GT 63 S E Performance starts with the same 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V-8 as the non-hybrid version, wedged in up front and sending power through all four wheels using a trick, active center differential and a set of driveshafts, one heading rearward and a second one going up to the front.

This hybrid variant picks up a 201 hp electric motor, which sits at the rear axle but can still power the front wheels, meaning that even when driven as an EV, the GT 63 S E Performance still offers all-wheel drive. The car can reach 80 mph emissions-free, too, and driven in EV mode like this, it’s a surprisingly endearing ride. It’s quick to accelerate and still quite fun, but of course, it’s a far cry from what it can do in full-power mode.

Turn the selector knob over to any of the other drive modes, and the electric motor and gasoline engine work together in harmony. The hybrid system gives you the instant torque to get off the line in a snap, driving the car forward while the turbos on that V-8 start doing their thing. And when they’re  up to full boost, the car is an absolute rocket ship, as I found out while quickly surging past 150 mph, which is all that I could manage on some hectic days on the Autobahn. Its top speed is limited to 199 mph.

Even at such higher speeds, the car is smooth and planted, barely requiring any inputs at the wheel, just motoring along as if you were doing 50 mph. At lower speeds, you can feel the additional weight of the hybrid system a bit more, all situated over the rear axle. Mercedes hasn’t quoted a formal curb weight yet, but it’s easily a few hundred pounds more. You especially feel it in Comfort mode when the car is softest. There’s just a bit of extra movement from the rear axle on bumps and tighter corners.

However, when you slot the GT 63 S E Performance over to Sport or Sport+, any vague behavior from the suspension is eliminated. The adaptive dampers and the rear-axle steering help the vehicle feel firm and engaged. That extra weight is still there, but you have to be driving extremely aggressively to overpower the 20-inch Michelin Pilot Sport 5 S tires, which we certainly don’t recommend.

The impact of that hybrid system is more clearly felt when you open the rear hatch. While the regular GT 63 offers generous cargo space for a pair of suitcases, more than enough for a week-long getaway with someone special, the E Performance is much more compromised. There’s a big hump to make room for the 6.1 kWh battery pack, of which 4.8 of that is usable.

That means you’ll probably be restricted to a long weekend getaway. Still, the tradeoff is that you can go up to eight miles on a charge, silently and emissions-free. And, of course, you have that extra electrified hp when you really need to get where you’re going fast.

And for those longer journeys, the AMG GT 63 S E Performance is every bit as good a machine as its slower, non-hybrid predecessors. The interior is finely crafted and lovely to behold, forming around you to give a sense of sportiness without claustrophobia. Unless that is, you’re stuck in the rear seats, which aren’t suitable for anyone of even moderate height.

The Burmester sound system is, as ever, exemplary, and the MBUX infotainment system—running on an 11.9-inch touchscreen—is intuitive and powerful. There’s even a full suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist, as well as a 360-degree camera, which you’ll need to help park this thing, given its 186-inch length. That’s a task made even more complicated by the model having a turning radius on par with a municipal bus—despite its rear-axle steering.

Yet those are all minor complaints in an otherwise noteworthy grand tourer. Mercedes hasn’t given us the price on it yet, but when the AMG GT 63 S E Performance hits dealers later this year, expect to pay a healthy premium over the non-hybrid GT 63’s $175,900 starting cost.

Click below for more photos of the 2025 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance.