By Clive Funizwe

How would a coalescence of parts from an AMG GT, E-Class and CLS turn out? Brilliant! This amalgamation has made the AMG GT63s an outstanding machine in many ways but has a caveat that might be a deterrent to a specific buyer expecting that one more thing that Merc normally does very well – but this will be discussed through our appraisal as we wax lyrical about the AMG GT63s.

A looker of note

From the get-go, this car meets and exceeds expectations in many areas. The overall aesthetics, lines and stature are a work of art. Like many manufacturers – the ‘family look’ is maintained but its masculine appearance has just the right amount of aggression to differentiate it from any of its younger siblings. The AMG style grill dominates the front with a huge Merc emblem, the doors are frameless, and the rear is completed by well-integrated quad-exhausts which are consistent with the design and lines of the car. This model has a fixed spoiler as part of the performance pack. All very sleek.

A well-crafted interior

As is with luxury Merc’s – craftmanship is top drawer. The quality materials are pieced together with care and the detail does justice to our OCD. Our test unit had the standard Nappa-leather and the Black piano-lacquer look trim, which we would change for any of the other 3 trims because of how it shows fingerprints and dust. The rest of the cabin has unquestionable materials, like the alcantara steering and aluminum buttons, dual screen, which is crystal clear and responsive to the touch and has a plethora of viewing aids and configurability. There’s ambient lighting across the entire cabin and the air-vents change colour from blue (cold) to red (warm) depending on the selected temperature.

V8 AMG engine

Another way to raise the temperature in the car is to squeeze the throttle. There acceleration is violent and brutal to one’s neck. If I had to tell you that this car has a twin turbo 4.0l V8 that pushes out 470kW and 900Nm you would be correct in assuming that the figures are impressive and all that translates to the car being fast. But nothing prepares you for that G-Force experience when things get a little spirited. The great news is that it’s not just fast, it handles great too. Admittedly you do feel the weight of the car in corners, but the lean in is what you can call progressive and you can anticipate it with the assistance of the four-wheel drive with confidence. The steering is also sharp, and you have a great sense of the contact patch upfront. The performance is all that more enjoyable with the exhaust note on race-mode. The bassy note, pops, snaps and bangs are an aural pleasure. One that will get some of your neighbours and by-standers envious. This is one satisfying car in many ways.

Performance v luxury

In typical consumer advice by car reviewers – the question must be asked. How does it stack up to its starting price of R 3,253,000? Here’s a not so quick answer. The AMG GT63s offers a great deal of luxury amenities and without a question – super car performance – that comfortably carries 4 passengers with a big boot, despite the seats not folding down. Another caveat with the AMG GT63s is the ride quality. Even on comfort mode, the ride is not exactly supple. Reverberation in the cabin from rough surfaces is also an aspect to consider if you will be grand touring with this car. For anyone who is used to Merc’s refinement levels at this price point – this might be a potential deal breaker.

Final word

All in all – this is a fine machine that displays how far performance has come – even in cars that weigh this much and can be used daily without any space constraints. The cylinder deactivation also comes in handy when you’re cruising, and the consumption drops to around 7.5l/100km. So, for sheer lunacy and an all-rounder perspective – it’s well worth a consideration.