The four-door coupe is set to receive the hybrid treatment, going up against the 680bhp Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid
Unlike the last AMG to wear the 73 name, this iteration of the AMG GT 4-Door is unlikely to come with a 7.3-litre power plant, but instead, hybrid componentry as part of the division’s new E Performance range. Rumoured pure electric capabilities would put it directly inline with Porsche’s efforts, and make it Affalterbach’s flagship model.
Previously spotted testing in Scandinavia, the latest images come from Mercedes-AMG as the model joins the upcoming Project One for the launch of the 2021 W12 F1 car. An F1-inspired livery disguises any design tweaks, though, with no change from the current 63 model to be seen.
> Mercedes-AMG GT63 S 4-Door review – AMG’s Panamera rival lands a one-two
With a reveal not expected until later this year, details are scarce, but these new images have reignited conversation about AMG’s very first plug-in hybrid. A clip featured in the brand’s 2019 overview film previewed a GT 4-Door mule accelerating silently, reinforcing the rumours of an upcoming plug-in hybrid variant.
Though a hybrid iteration is still yet to surface, 2017’s concept came with the current model’s 4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 mated to an electric motor, for an output of around 800bhp. Should the GT73 take on the specs of the concept, it would boast a healthy 120bhp advantage over its closest rival, the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, taking it closer to the all-electric Taycan Turbo S.
With electric motors renowned for their instant torque and gap-filling abilities, performance will likely be brisk. The pure-combustion, 630bhp 63 S can sprint from 0 to 100kph in only 3.2sec and on to a 315kph, making a sub-3 second time likely for the uprated PHEV.
Pricing is yet to be revealed, but expect it to exceed the $188,000 price tag of the current 63 S.
This article originally appeared at evo.co.uk
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