Mercedes is intensifying its electrification efforts in the performance segment with AMG-branded versions of the EQS and the EQE sedans. At the same time, it’s investing in powerful plug-in hybrids as demonstrated by the GT 63 S E Performance and the AMG One hypercar arriving in 2022. The former has a whopping 831 horsepower on tap while the latter is expected to offer more than 1,000 hp.
A new report from Auto Bild claims another member of the AMG family will be electrified, namely the second generation of the GT Coupe. Based on the recently unveiled SL roadster, the Porsche 911 rival from Affalterbach is believed to borrow styling cues from the AMG One and merge them with the hardware of the GT 63 S E Performance to create an impressively powerful and fast coupe.
While the regular versions of the GT Coupe are expected to mirror the SL 55 and SL 63 soft-top convertibles with their V8 engines, the PHEV is said to sit on top of the lineup with more than 800 hp. It too will have a 4.0-liter, twin-turbo gasoline mill, but it’ll work together with a rear-mounted electric motor as well as a battery pack.
In the GT 63 S E Performance, the plug-in hybrid system is good for 1,400 Newton-meters (1,033 pound-feet), which would be sensational to have in a lighter, more track-focused coupe. It remains to be seen whether AMG’s engineers will be able to cram in the complicated powertrain into the next GT Coupe as we can assume there are some packaging constraints.
Auto Bild is confident it will happen, and logic tells us the PHEV AMG GT Coupe will go up against the already confirmed hybrid version of the Porsche 911. Zuffenhausen’s iconic sports car is slated to arrive in the coming years and rumor has it power will hit the 700-hp mark. However, the extra hardware will increase weight by 100 kilograms (220 pounds) compared to the regular flat-six models. Needless to say, the AMG GT Coupe will also gain some weight if a PHEV will be happening.
The conventionally powered two-door sports car from Mercedes-AMG could debut as early as 2022, although logic tells us a potential electrified derivative will arrive later in the life cycle.
Source: Auto Bild
