Tag Archives: Mercedes-AMG

NEW CARS

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

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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

Auctions

This Rare AMG Wide-Body Coupe Just Sold for $251,000—and It Proves Not Every AMG Legend Needed a V8

When enthusiasts talk about pre-merger AMG, the conversation usually begins—and ends—with the Hammer. The wide-fendered super sedan became an icon by stuffing a massive V8 into an unsuspecting Mercedes and embarrassing exotic cars in the process. But every now and then, a lesser-known creation emerges to remind us that Affalterbach’s magic wasn’t measured solely in cylinder count.

Case in point: this 1992 Mercedes-Benz 300 CE-24 AMG 3.4, one of just 25 examples converted by AMG when new. Recently crossing the auction block for an impressive $251,000, it stands as a rolling reminder of a time when AMG was still a renegade tuner building bespoke machines for customers who wanted something far more exclusive than anything available from a Mercedes showroom.

The recipe started with the elegant C124-generation 300 CE-24 coupe, already one of the most handsome Mercedes designs of its era. From there, AMG worked its usual black magic. The naturally aspirated M104 inline-six was enlarged from 3.0 to 3.4 liters, while a set of AMG camshafts helped increase output to a claimed 272 horsepower. That may not sound outrageous today, but in the early 1990s it represented a substantial jump over the standard car’s roughly 220 horsepower and transformed the coupe into a genuinely quick grand tourer.

Visually, the upgrades are impossible to miss. Finished in Blue-Black Metallic, the coupe wears the full AMG treatment: dramatically widened fenders, deeper side skirts, front and rear spoilers, and a set of classic three-piece AMG wheels that perfectly capture the era. The result is equal parts luxury coupe and street-fighting bruiser—a machine that looks like it belongs in a late-night Tokyo crime thriller. Fittingly, this particular example spent much of its life in Japan after receiving its AMG conversion.

Open the door and the period-correct atmosphere continues. Heated Recaro Classic sport seats, AMG instrumentation, rich wood trim, and a Technics cassette player transport occupants straight back to the golden age of German tuner cars. In an era when many classic performance cars are modernized beyond recognition, this AMG remains refreshingly authentic.

Its condition is no accident. Prior to the sale, the previous owner reportedly invested heavily in mechanical refurbishment. The engine was removed and serviced, seals and gaskets were renewed, numerous wear items were replaced, and the transmission received its own refresh. A set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires completes the package, ensuring the upgraded straight-six can deliver its power with confidence.

Of course, perspective matters. As special as this AMG coupe is, it occupies a different tier from the mythical Hammer models powered by AMG’s thunderous 6.0-liter V8. Those cars remain the crown jewels of the pre-merger AMG world, and their values reflect that reality. One example changed hands for an astonishing $885,000 in 2023.

Yet that comparison almost misses the point. The appeal of this 300 CE-24 AMG 3.4 isn’t that it’s a bargain Hammer. It’s that it represents a different side of AMG’s history—one built on engineering finesse rather than brute force. Before AMG became a global performance brand, it was a small company creating highly personalized machines for a select group of enthusiasts. Cars like this are increasingly rare survivors from that era.

And at a quarter-million dollars, collectors are clearly starting to notice.

Source: Bring a Trailer

Tuning

Larte Design’s Two-Tone Mercedes-AMG G63 Is a €90,000 Paint Job That Somehow Makes Sense

If there is one thing the Mercedes-AMG G63 has never lacked, it’s presence. With its towering stance, thunderous V-8 soundtrack, and enough visual drama to make a supercar feel self-conscious, the G-Wagen already occupies a unique place in the luxury SUV universe. Apparently, though, there are buyers who look at a six-figure AMG and think: It needs more attention.

That’s where German tuner Larte Design comes in.

Following the introduction of its “Winner” carbon-fiber body kit for the current-generation G63, the Erkrath-based company has unveiled a new personalization program that adds something Mercedes itself doesn’t offer: a fully bespoke two-tone exterior finish.

The premise is simple. According to Larte, many customers eager to get behind the wheel of a G63 don’t want to endure lengthy factory waiting lists and often end up purchasing vehicles finished in colors they never would have chosen. The solution? Buy the G63 now, then let Larte transform it later.

Owners can select virtually any two-color combination imaginable and decide whether the weave of the carbon-fiber body components should remain visible or be painted over. Once specifications are finalized, the SUV is shipped to one of Germany’s specialist paint facilities—the same kind of workshops trusted by several luxury-car manufacturers for their own high-end finishing work.

The result is a G63 that somehow manages to stand out even in a parking lot full of G-Wagens.

Of course, exclusivity isn’t cheap. Larte’s Winner carbon-fiber package, which includes components designed to fit without requiring modifications to the original bodywork, carries a price tag of €44,276 and comes paired with 23-inch wheels. Add the new two-tone paint treatment and buyers will need to find another €45,000.

Yes, that’s nearly €90,000 in upgrades before you’ve even touched the powertrain.

Not that the engine needs much help. Beneath the squared-off hood remains AMG’s familiar 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8, producing 585 horsepower and 627 pound-feet (850 Nm) of torque. That’s enough to launch the luxury brick from 0 to 62 mph in 4.4 seconds before it runs into an electronically governed top speed of 137 mph.

So what does almost ninety grand buy you? Not more power. Not more speed. Not even more capability off-road. What it buys is individuality—a commodity that, for many G63 owners, may be worth more than an extra hundred horsepower.

In a world where exclusivity is often measured by how difficult it is to get noticed, Larte Design has found a way to make the Mercedes-AMG G63 even harder to ignore. Whether that’s a brilliant business idea or a symptom of luxury-car excess depends entirely on which side of the €90,000 paint bill you’re standing.

Source: Larte Design