NEW CARS

New Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S and GLS 63 Debut with M177 EVO Power

Just when it seemed every performance SUV was heading toward downsized engines and increasingly electrified futures, Mercedes-AMG has delivered a reminder that some traditions are worth fighting for.

Meet the heavily revised GLE 63 S 4MATIC+ and GLS 63 4MATIC+, two familiar high-performance SUVs that arrive carrying something increasingly rare in today’s automotive landscape: a hand-built AMG V8. More importantly, that V8 isn’t merely surviving—it has been extensively reengineered to ensure it remains part of AMG’s future.

At the center of both SUVs sits the latest evolution of AMG’s legendary M177 engine, a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 now known internally as the M177 EVO. While output remains unchanged at 612 horsepower and 627 pound-feet (850 Nm) of torque, AMG engineers have performed a comprehensive overhaul beneath the aluminum skin.

The headline change is a new flat-plane crankshaft, a feature more commonly associated with exotic sports cars than luxury SUVs weighing well over two tons. The switch reduces rotating mass, sharpens throttle response, and allows the engine to spin more freely toward redline. AMG says the result is a more eager and responsive character while simultaneously helping the powertrain meet increasingly stringent emissions regulations around the globe.

That balancing act—preserving personality while satisfying regulators—has become one of the industry’s greatest engineering challenges. AMG’s answer includes revised intake and exhaust ports, an updated fuel-injection system, redesigned turbocharger components, and a significantly upgraded emissions-control package that now includes a particulate filter as standard worldwide.

The V8 is no longer working alone, either.

A 48-volt electrical architecture and second-generation integrated starter-generator contribute an additional 23 horsepower and 151 pound-feet (205 Nm) of temporary assistance. The mild-hybrid setup smooths stop-start operation, improves low-end response, and recovers energy during deceleration without diluting the combustion engine’s character.

And yes, performance remains suitably outrageous.

Mercedes-AMG claims the GLE 63 S reaches 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 3.9 seconds, while the larger GLS 63 follows closely behind at 4.2 seconds. Both are capable of a 174-mph (280-km/h) top speed.

For many AMG loyalists, however, the numbers are only half the story.

The soundtrack matters just as much.

To that end, AMG has developed an entirely new Performance Exhaust system complete with active valves. In Comfort mode, the V8 settles into a subdued rumble appropriate for school runs and highway cruising. Select Sport+ and the system unleashes the deeper, more aggressive voice buyers expect from an AMG flagship.

Visually, Mercedes has given both SUVs a stronger performance identity. A redesigned front fascia features a more prominent Panamericana-style grille, larger cooling intakes, and new AMG-specific lighting signatures. Around back, quad exhaust outlets and an aggressive diffuser leave little doubt about what powers these machines.

The hardware beneath the bodywork receives equally significant attention.

AMG Ride Control+ combines air suspension with adaptive dampers and can alter its personality dramatically depending on driver preference. The system lowers the vehicle by 10 millimeters during spirited driving to improve aerodynamics and stability, yet can also raise ride height for rough roads or light off-road excursions.

For drivers who somehow find themselves tackling trails in a 612-hp luxury SUV, a dedicated Trail mode increases ground clearance by up to 55 millimeters while recalibrating the suspension, all-wheel-drive system, and damping characteristics.

Body control is managed by AMG Active Ride Control, which uses electromechanical anti-roll bars on both axles. Sensors monitor vehicle movements up to 1,000 times per second, actively counteracting body roll and helping these large SUVs corner with surprising composure.

The permanent AMG Performance 4MATIC+ system remains fully variable, capable of distributing torque precisely where it’s needed. Working alongside an electronically controlled rear differential, the setup promises sharper turn-in, improved traction, and greater stability whether carving through mountain roads or navigating snow-covered highways.

Inside, the formula blends performance and luxury in typical AMG fashion.

Drivers are greeted by the latest AMG Performance steering wheel, available in Nappa leather, microfiber-trimmed MICROCUT, or carbon-fiber finishes. Premium leather upholstery options span everything from understated black to vibrant MANUFAKTUR shades such as yacht blue and carmine red, while carbon trim and microfiber headliners reinforce the sporting atmosphere.

Technology also takes a step forward thanks to Mercedes-Benz’s new MB.OS operating system. High-resolution displays provide AMG-specific performance data, including real-time torque distribution, G-force measurements, and detailed engine telemetry, transforming the digital cockpit into a rolling performance command center.

Perhaps the most telling aspect of these updated SUVs isn’t any single specification, however. It’s the philosophy they represent.

In an era when performance increasingly arrives through batteries, software, and synthetic soundtracks, Mercedes-AMG has chosen to invest heavily in preserving one of its defining characteristics: a powerful twin-turbocharged V8.

The GLE 63 S and GLS 63 may be luxury family haulers on paper, but their existence sends a broader message. AMG believes there is still room in the future for eight cylinders, real exhaust notes, and the kind of mechanical drama that helped build the brand’s reputation in the first place.

For enthusiasts, that’s probably the most important number of all.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

NEW CARS

New Denza Z Combines 1,582bhp with Four-Seat Practicality

For decades, the world’s fastest grand tourers have arrived wearing familiar badges. Ferrari. Porsche. Aston Martin. Maserati. Even newcomers like Rimac have spent years earning credibility before asking six-figure buyers to take them seriously.

Now comes the Denza Z, a Chinese-built electric super-GT with 1,582 horsepower, a claimed 0–62 mph time of less than two seconds, and enough ambition to challenge Europe’s establishment on its own turf.

And perhaps most surprisingly, it’s heading to Europe before it goes on sale at home.

Fresh regulatory filings in China have revealed the full scale of Denza’s flagship performance machine, confirming figures that place it firmly in hypercar territory. The BYD-owned luxury brand’s new halo model produces a staggering 1,582 horsepower from a tri-motor electric powertrain, matching the sort of output once reserved for seven-figure exotics.

The numbers are predictably outrageous. Denza claims the Z will blast from 0 to 62 mph in under 2.0 seconds—putting it in the same conversation as the Rimac Nevera—and newly disclosed specifications reveal a top speed of 217 mph.

Not bad for a four-seat convertible.

Heavyweight Performance

The catch, if there is one, comes on the scales.

The soft-top version tips the balance at 5,842 pounds (2,650 kilograms), while the hard-roof model shaves that figure down slightly to 5,688 pounds (2,580 kilograms). Those are substantial numbers even in the EV era, though Denza clearly believes overwhelming power can compensate for excess mass.

Customers seeking maximum performance will be able to specify a sport package featuring a prominent rear wing. Beyond adding visual drama, the package unlocks the car’s full 217-mph capability. Standard models are electronically limited to a still-ridiculous 186 mph.

Designed by a Familiar Hand

While the badge may be new to many enthusiasts, the styling comes from a designer with impeccable credentials.

The Z was penned by Wolfgang Egger, whose résumé includes iconic work at Alfa Romeo, including the stunning 8C Competizione. The production car remains remarkably faithful to the concept first shown in Beijing, retaining its smooth bodywork, low nose, and cab-forward proportions.

The result is less aggressively futuristic than many modern EVs and more reminiscent of a traditional European grand tourer—an intentional move for a car targeting buyers accustomed to established luxury brands.

A Rare EV That Still Has Buttons

Inside, Denza appears to have resisted the temptation to bury every function inside a touchscreen.

The concept’s cabin featured a surprising number of physical controls, including what appear to be dedicated switches for drive modes and suspension settings. A squared-off steering wheel, exposed carbon-fiber trim, and bucket seats reinforce the performance focus, while the 2+2 seating layout positions the Z as a genuine grand tourer rather than a stripped-out track special.

It’s an approach that feels refreshingly old-school in a segment increasingly dominated by minimalist interiors and touchscreen overload.

Hypercar Technology Underneath

The headline power figure is only part of the story.

The Z employs a sophisticated three-motor setup with one electric motor driving the front axle and two powering the rear. It also receives steer-by-wire technology and BYD’s advanced DiSus-M magnetorheological suspension system, borrowed from the wild Yangwang U9 hypercar.

That suspension can continuously adjust damping characteristics based on upcoming road conditions, effectively preparing the chassis before it encounters bumps or surface changes.

Whether the Z will inherit the U9’s attention-grabbing ability to hop into the air remains unknown. As entertaining as that feature may be, European GT buyers are likely to care more about ride quality at 150 mph than party tricks in a parking lot.

Europe First, China Later

Perhaps the most telling detail isn’t found in the specifications sheet.

Denza plans to launch the Z in Europe before introducing it to Chinese customers, a bold strategy that reveals exactly who this car is targeting. The company clearly sees the continent’s premium GT market as the ultimate proving ground for its luxury ambitions.

It’s a daring move. European buyers have historically been loyal to domestic performance brands, and convincing them to spend supercar money on a relatively unknown Chinese nameplate won’t be easy.

Still, performance figures have a way of attracting attention.

The Price Question

Denza hasn’t revealed pricing, but the closest competitor on paper is arguably Maserati’s GranTurismo Folgore, which starts at roughly £180,000.

The Chinese brand may attempt to undercut that figure to accelerate market acceptance, though the Z will inevitably command a significant premium over the upcoming Denza Z9 GT, itself expected to start around £100,000.

If Denza can combine its extraordinary performance, advanced technology, and potentially aggressive pricing into a genuinely polished grand tourer, Europe’s established luxury manufacturers may have a new problem on their hands.

The numbers suggest the Denza Z is already capable of embarrassing some of the world’s fastest cars.

Now it has to prove it can be more than just a spec sheet hero.

Source: Autocar

CONCEPT CARS

MG’s Electric Future Arrives at Goodwood with Two New Concepts

Before July’s Goodwood Festival of Speed has even opened its gates, MG is already teasing what could be the most important glimpse yet into its electric future. The Chinese-owned brand, which continues to lean heavily on its British roots, has confirmed that it will unveil not one but two concept cars at the famed hillclimb event—and unlike many auto-show fantasies, both are destined for production.

The first of the pair is a small all-electric hatchback aimed squarely at Europe’s fiercely contested B-segment. While MG hasn’t revealed a name, the company has released enough teaser imagery to paint a clear picture of where it’s headed. The compact EV adopts a smooth, rounded front end free of any traditional grille, while friendly-looking headlights give it a more approachable personality than the aggressive faces increasingly common in the EV world. Around back, sharp LED lighting and a prominent roof spoiler inject a dose of sportiness, and the MG badge has been relocated to the C-pillar for a cleaner, more contemporary look.

Scheduled to arrive in production form in 2027, the hatchback is expected to serve as MG’s fully electric counterpart to the MG2 Hybrid. That places it directly in the crosshairs of a growing list of European rivals, including the Renault 5 E-Tech, Nissan Micra EV, Volkswagen’s upcoming ID. Polo, the Cupra Raval, Mini Cooper Electric, and Peugeot E-208.

MG is keeping its second concept firmly under wraps, describing it only as an “electric design vision.” The vague wording may sound like classic concept-car marketing speak, but MG has already confirmed that this vehicle, too, will evolve into a production model. According to the company, it previews a “desirable future model” that will further expand the brand’s increasingly EV-focused lineup.

The concepts won’t be the only attraction at MG’s Goodwood stand. The manufacturer plans to bring a broad selection of current and upcoming models, including the MGS9 PHEV, MG4 EV, ZS Hybrid, HS PHEV, Cyberster roadster, and the IM5 sedan introduced last year. Several of those vehicles—including the MGS9 PHEV, MGS6 EV, and Cyberster—will tackle Goodwood’s legendary hillclimb, providing visitors with a chance to see them in action rather than simply sitting under show lights.

In a move that sounds appropriately futuristic for an EV-heavy showcase, MG’s exhibition area will also feature interactive robots designed to entertain and engage visitors throughout the event.

The full story, however, won’t be told until July 9, when both concepts make their official debut. The presentation will be led by MG’s global design chief, Jozef Kaban, whose résumé includes influential work at brands ranging from Volkswagen to BMW. If the teaser images are any indication, Goodwood could mark the beginning of MG’s next major push into Europe’s rapidly expanding electric-car market.

Source: MG

Cars and catalogues