AMG GT 63 Coupe
Spending The Day With 577 Horses
Most cars can get you from A to B with zero emotion, but what fun is that? Why not instead choose a car that makes you reconsider whether you actually need to arrive at B at all. Plow it all the way through the alphabet and enjoy every second. That’s the AMG GT 63 Coupe.
We spent a day behind the wheel, and one thing became abundantly clear: Mercedes-AMG has created a machine that manages to be equal parts sophisticated grand tourer and thoroughly unreasonable performance car. It's beautifully engineered, unapologetically aggressive, and just arrogant enough to be interesting.
Let's start with the looks, because frankly, it's difficult not to. The GT 63 has the sort of proportions that make you look back at it after parking. Its long bonnet, muscular rear haunches, wide stance and unmistakable AMG Panamericana grille give it an unmistakably exotic presence.
From the front, it looks genuinely intimidating. From the side, it's almost sculptural. And from the rear, those broad shoulders and quad exhaust outlets leave very little doubt about its intentions.
This is not a particularly shy car. But then again, if you're spending this kind of money, blending into traffic probably wasn't high on your priority list. Did I just say “blend”?
Step inside, and the atmosphere changes considerably. The exterior might suggest a car that's permanently late for a racetrack, but the cabin is considerably more civilized. The materials feel appropriately premium, with beautifully finished surfaces, supportive sports seats and an impressive combination of digital technology and physical controls. The cockpit feels driver-focused without becoming claustrophobic or unnecessarily theatrical. The infotainment system is slick, the screens are sharp, and everything feels expensive in a way that doesn't require a Mercedes badge on every available surface to remind you, even though you will consistently think back to writing that $190,000 check.
The seats deserve particular praise. They're supportive enough for enthusiastic driving but comfortable enough to spend several hours behind the wheel without developing a personal disagreement with your back and an appointment with your chiropractor.
Under the bonnet sits AMG's 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8, producing a formidable 577 horsepower in the GT 63 Coupe. And oh boy, does it deliver.
Press the accelerator, and the car responds with an urgency that makes ordinary traffic feel almost stationary. The acceleration is ferocious, the gearbox responds quickly, and the exhaust note provides exactly the sort of theatrical soundtrack you'd hope for from an AMG V8. The claimed 0–60 mph time is approximately 3.1 seconds. On the road, it feels every bit as serious as those numbers suggest. Three seconds of a growl is glorious. Naturally, we kept our enthusiastic driving to appropriate conditions. There is, after all, no need to introduce the local police department to your new favorite hobby on loan!
Here's where the GT 63 really surprised us. Despite its aggressive character, it doesn't punish you for choosing the scenic route. The adaptive suspension allows the car to settle into a remarkably comfortable rhythm, and highway cruising is impressively refined. Road noise is reasonably controlled, the cabin feels solid, and the car has enough composure to make longer journeys genuinely enjoyable.
It's not a luxury sedan of course. The rear seats (seats?) are more suitable for occasional passengers than particularly ambitious family road trips. But that's hardly the point. This is a sports car that happens to understand the importance of comfort.
After a full day with the AMG GT 63 Coupe, it's difficult to find much to complain about. It's fast, beautiful, luxurious and surprisingly usable. More importantly, it manages to feel special even when you're doing something as mundane as driving to lunch.
Is it practical? Not particularly. Is it sensible? We could argue that. Is it worth considering if you're shopping in the $180,000-plus performance luxury market? Without question.
The AMG GT 63 combines exotic-car drama with everyday sophistication and has a V8 that reminds you why internal combustion engines still have their devoted following.
Our final verdict: 9.3/10.
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