Mercedes-AMG’s 1,153 Hp Electric GT 4-Door Takes On Porsche’s Taycan
Mercedes-AMG is known for its performance sedans like the GT63 SE Performance, equipped with a complex 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 hybrid powertrain. Today, the company has developed its most powerful vehicle ever, but took a completely different path to get there. The new GT 4-Door Coupe is a 1,153 hp purely electric beast with an all-new slim and light powertrain.
To build a vehicle capable of competing with Porsche’s electric Taycan, Mercedes-AMG developed the 800-volt AMG.EA platform. It uses three new “axial flow” motors which combine high power with reduced weight and size. The front motor is only 3.5 inches thick, but it hits redlines above 15,000 rpm and only kicks in for extra performance or regenerative braking. The two rear motors (each about 3.2 inches tall) are married to a single-speed transmission and can reach just over 13,000 rpm. The entire powertrain weighs just 309 pounds.
Mercedes-AMG
These small motors, coupled with the 106 kWh battery, can however produce some power. The GT55 variant produces a maximum of 805 horsepower and 1,328 lb-ft of torque, while the GT63 version produces 1,153 horsepower and 1,475 lb-ft of torque. This will propel the GT63 from 0 to 60 mph in 2.0 seconds, beating Porsche’s 940 hp Taycan Turbo S by 0.3 seconds. If you want that throaty ICE engine sound, GT models can artificially mimic an AMG V8, including gear changes.
The GT 4-door uses a new type of battery, developed in conjunction with the company’s Formula 1 program. It uses very long cylindrical cells (more than four inches) that enable a high energy density of 298 Wh/kg, as well as long life and fast charging performance, Mercedes-AMG said. It also has a non-conductive oil cooling system designed to keep cells at uniform temperatures.
Running at 800 volts and up to 800 amps, the GT 4-door can charge at over 600 kW, which would take it from 10 to 80 percent charge in 11 minutes. Mercedes-AMG claims that the GT55 and GT63 models (both of which use the same battery capacity) have a range of 370 to 470 miles on the European WLTP cycle, which equates to more than 300 miles of EPA range.
Mercedes-AMG
To accommodate all that power, the GT 4-door features multi-link front and rear suspension, with the standard air suspension bolstered by electronic dampers and AMG’s Active Ride Control. For daily driving, the car will be slowed primarily by regenerative braking, but during sportier maneuvers the 5,400-pound vehicle can be stopped with carbon-ceramic disc brakes up front and steel rotor discs in the rear.
On the outside, the GT 4-Door features a curvaceous aerodynamic design with a drag coefficient of 0.22, with bulging fenders, a panoramic glass roof and sleek strakes along the hood and sides. It looks and feels quite long, five inches longer than the Taycan. Up front are running lights in Mercedes’ three-pointed star shape, along with a large grille that’s mostly cosmetic but allows air to enter underneath, controlled by louvers, for battery cooling. The taillights (all six) also display the Mercedes logo, just in case onlookers don’t. enough sure of the brand.
Mercedes-AMG
The sporty interior features padded seats and a large central screen, as well as a dedicated screen for the front passenger. The battery configuration, along with the length, allows for plenty of space for passengers. The driver can choose from no less than seven driving modes, nine traction control settings and a preheat function that alerts them when the tires and engines are at the ideal temperature. There’s even a panel that provides statistics on your track performance.
The 2027 Mercedes-AMG GT55 4-door coupe will arrive later this year, while the higher-performance GT63 version goes on sale in 2027. Pricing hasn’t been revealed, but Porsche’s Taycan Turbo S can fetch well over $200,000. Given that the GT63 is likely to outperform it, you can guess that its price will be in this neighborhood as well.
