2020 Mercedes-AMG GLC63 S Coupe

Spawned from Mercedes-Benz's popular GLC-class compact luxury SUV lineup, the high-performance 2020 Mercedes-AMG GLC63 S coupe pegs the absurdity meter in nearly every metric.
 

Take, for instance, its twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8. Rated for 503 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, it packs a 34-hp and 37-lb-ft advantage over the non-S GLC63, which makes do with just 469 horses and 479 lb-ft. Updated for 2020, like the not-at-all plebian Mercedes-Benz GLC300 on which it's based, the GLC63 S orbits in an entirely different solar system. Indeed, its V-8 doubles down on the GLC300's 255-hp 2.0-liter inline-four with twice the cylinders, displacement, and turbos. The point, of course, is speed, and in that measurement, the GLC63 S coupe delivers as one of the quickest SUVs on the market.

Space Race
Proud to trade a bit of practicality for a rakish exterior, the GLC63 S coupe's 49 cubic feet of cargo capacity with its rear seats folded is eight cubes fewer than the more traditionally shaped GLC63 SUV's. It cedes only 1 cubic foot of room to its square-back sibling with its rear seats raised. This is true of all GLC coupes regardless of trim level, although Mercedes-AMG tells us that the GLC63 S SUV, which we have not had the chance to drive, will not be sold in the United States. This leaves the GLC63 S coupe as the only choice for Stateside customers determined to own the most potent GLC model available. We're sure Mercedes has its reasons for this decision, but it seems a bit of a missed opportunity considering that the new BMW X3 M and its fastback sibling, the X4 M, are offered in both standard and higher-powered Competition forms.

As expected, forward thrust in the GLC63 S coupe still borders on the illogical, a trait we wholeheartedly endorse. There are no major mechanical changes versus last year's model. The standard nine-speed AMG-tuned automatic transmission, which employs a clutch pack in place of a conventional torque converter for heightened responses and weight savings, shuffles gears with typical German efficiency. Lifting off the GLC63's throttle at higher engine rpms produces plenty of pops and crackles from the V-8's exhaust. Although the tailpipe fireworks do seem a bit more restrained here than in some other AMG models we've driven, the deep, hearty bellow that the boosted V-8 emits is something we'll never tire of listening to. Dynamic engine mounts, which are exclusive to the GLC63 S, quell raucous engine vibrations that might find their way into the cabin.

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