Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S and GLS 63 Return with 612hp Twin-Turbo V8

The eight-cylinder Mercedes-AMG SUV is not going anywhere. Mercedes-AMG has revealed thoroughly revised versions of the GLE 63 S 4MATIC+ and the larger seven-seat GLS 63 4MATIC+, both keeping the brand’s hand-built 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 at a time when many performance cars are downsizing or switching to electric power.

The updated M177 EVO engine produces 450kW, or 612hp, along with 850Nm of torque. A mild-hybrid Integrated Starter Generator adds a further 17kW (23hp) and 205Nm when needed, smoothing the engine’s responses and filling in low-rev torque. For buyers who value the character and sound of a big-capacity V8, this is reassurance that AMG intends to keep building one.

A heavily reworked V8

This is not a light refresh of the engine. AMG has fitted a flat-plane crankshaft, a modified intake camshaft, an optimised fuel-injection system and updated exhaust aftertreatment so the V8 can meet tighter emissions rules around the world. As before, each engine is assembled in Affalterbach under the company’s “One man, one engine” principle, with a single technician building the unit from start to finish.

Michael Schiebe, chairman of the management board of Mercedes-AMG, said the V8 “has stood for impressive performance and great popularity among our customers. With the new M177 EVO generation, we have fundamentally revised the power unit and secured its presence in our portfolio for the long term. The result is an engine that impresses with agile response, strong performance and a pronounced appetite for revs while at the same time meeting increasingly demanding regulations worldwide.”

Performance figures

The numbers underline what that hardware delivers. The GLE 63 S 4MATIC+ accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds, while the heavier GLS 63 4MATIC+ takes 4.2 seconds, both reaching a top speed of 280km/h. Those are serious figures for two-and-a-half-tonne family SUVs, and they are achieved with AMG’s 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system putting the power down in all conditions.

The ISG mild-hybrid system also recovers energy under braking and enables smooth, near-instant engine restarts, so the V8 can shut down and refire without the driver noticing. A newly developed AMG Performance exhaust shapes the soundtrack, and a standard exhaust-valve control lets owners switch between a discreet note and a fuller, more theatrical voice depending on mood and surroundings.

Chassis, design and personalisation

Both models use adaptive AMG RIDE CONTROL+ suspension, which allows a wide gap between comfortable long-distance cruising and firmer body control when the driver wants it. That breadth is central to the appeal of a fast SUV: the ability to carry a family in comfort one moment and respond keenly to throttle and steering the next.

Visually, the revised cars gain a new front design with a distinctive AMG radiator grille and an exclusive LED light signature, giving them a more purposeful face. Buyers who want to make their car individual can turn to the MANUFAKTUR programme, which opens up a broad menu of paint finishes, interior materials and detailing.

Where they sit in the market

The GLE 63 S and GLS 63 compete with the BMW X5 M and X7 M60i, the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and the Audi SQ8, but AMG’s commitment to a V8 increasingly sets it apart as rivals lean on smaller turbocharged engines and hybrid assistance. The GLS 63, with its three rows of seats, is one of very few ways to combine genuine seven-seat family practicality with supercar-baiting acceleration.

UK pricing and on-sale timing are still to be announced, and these are unapologetically expensive, thirsty cars aimed at a small, committed audience. For that audience, the message is simple: the hand-built AMG V8 survives, now updated to meet modern rules while keeping the performance and the noise that made it a favourite in the first place.

The decision to keep the V8 is a notable one in the wider context of the performance market. Stricter emissions rules and the push towards electrification have pushed several rivals away from large engines, with some turning to six-cylinder units or plug-in hybrid systems to chase efficiency. AMG’s updates to the M177 EVO, including the new exhaust aftertreatment, are designed to let the eight-cylinder engine continue under tighter regulations rather than retire it, which will reassure enthusiasts who feared the V8 was on borrowed time.

Practicality has not been forgotten. The GLE 63 S seats five and offers the space of a large family SUV, while the GLS 63 adds a third row for genuine seven-seat use, making it one of the very few cars that can carry a full household and still cover 0 to 100km/h in the low four-second range. Both come with the breadth of ability that the adaptive suspension allows, switching from a comfortable cruiser on a long motorway journey to a firmer, more responsive machine when the road opens up.

Running costs will be high, as they always are with a car of this performance and weight, and the mild-hybrid system is there to smooth delivery rather than to deliver large fuel savings. Buyers in this part of the market tend to accept that trade-off in exchange for the character a big V8 provides. With UK pricing still to be confirmed, the GLE 63 S and GLS 63 will sit at the top of their respective ranges, aimed at drivers who want maximum power and presence without giving up everyday usability.