Both the GLE 63 S Coupe and GLS 63 share an updated twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 producing 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, boosted further by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system adding up to 23 hp and 151 lb-ftThe GLE 63 S reaches 60 mph in 3.6 seconds while the larger GLS 63 manages 3.9 seconds, with both capped electronically at 174 mphA new AMG Active Ride Control system scans the road surface up to 1,000 times per second to counteract body roll, working alongside standard AMG Ride Control+ air suspension Reports of the V8's death were apparently premature. After Mercedes briefly flirted with replacing its big performance engines with smaller turbocharged fours wearing plug-in hybrid systems, a decision that pleased almost nobody who actually buys AMG products, Affalterbach has reversed course decisively. The proof arrives in the form of the updated GLE 63 S Coupe and GLS 63, two SUVs that remain committed to the idea that bigger displacement solves most problems. Both vehicles share the same reworked heart: a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 now producing 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. AMG's engineers fitted a flat-plane crankshaft this time around, reducing rotating mass within the engine and allowing it to spin up more freely than the previous cross-plane setup permitted. New turbochargers and revised intake design sharpen throttle response while improving overall efficiency, which matters considerably less to buyers than the fact this engine now feels noticeably more eager under hard acceleration. Supporting that V8 is a 48-volt mild-hybrid system built around an updated Integrated Starter Generator. This isn't a full hybrid setup, and AMG has deliberately avoided making it feel like one. Instead it contributes up to 23 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque, filling in low-end response and smoothing out the kind of low-speed driving that a pure twin-turbo V8 sometimes handles less elegantly. The net effect is a big SUV that feels more immediate from a standstill without the driving character changing into something resembling an electric vehicle. Numbers that embarrass actual sports cars The performance figures that result are genuinely startling for vehicles this size. The GLE 63 S Coupe reaches 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. The considerably larger GLS 63, Mercedes' three-row flagship SUV, manages the same sprint in 3.9 seconds. Both vehicles are electronically limited to 174 mph, a figure that exists purely as a regulatory ceiling rather than reflecting what either car could theoretically achieve given enough room and considerably less concern for tire longevity. Handling hardware backs up those acceleration numbers properly rather than leaving the chassis to simply hope for the best. AMG Ride Control Plus air suspension comes standard across both models, now paired with AMG Active Ride Control, a system that scans the road surface up to 1,000 times every second and counters body roll in real time before it has a chance to develop. A fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC Plus all-wheel drive system distributes power as needed, while an electronically controlled rear locking differential helps manage traction during enthusiastic cornering that most owners will likely never attempt. Visually, AMG chose restraint over dramatic redesign. The basic proportions carry over largely unchanged from the previous generation, but a new AMG-specific grille, revised LED lighting signatures, and noticeably larger front air intakes feeding that hungry V8 update the front-end appearance. Quad exhaust tips and a reshaped rear diffuser handle the back end, while the GLS specifically gets a distinctive set of 10-spoke wheels that separate it visually from the smaller GLE. Inside, AMG hasn't deviated dramatically from its established formula. Large screens dominate the dashboard, AMG-specific graphics theme the interface, and customization options remain extensive throughout. A new AMG Performance steering wheel integrates drive-mode controls directly into the rim, while the underlying MB.OS software displays real-time performance metrics including torque distribution, g-force readings, and engine statistics for anyone wanting to monitor exactly how hard they're pushing nearly two and a half tons of German engineering through a corner. For buyers wanting these SUVs to feel genuinely personal rather than merely expensive, AMG has expanded its MANUFAKTUR personalization program considerably. Bold exterior paint finishes sit alongside premium leather combinations including Yacht Blue and Tartufo Brown, giving customers the ability to specify something that doesn't simply blend into every other GLE or GLS in a parking structure. Pricing hasn't been confirmed yet for either model, though nobody seriously expects either to arrive at modest cost. These represent two of AMG's most potent SUV offerings to date, and that kind of performance ceiling rarely comes attached to a friendly price tag. What matters most here isn't really the specification sheet, impressive as it reads. It's the message Mercedes is sending by reviving and improving its big V8 SUVs rather than continuing down the smaller-engine path it briefly explored. AMG buyers wanted displacement and drama. Affalterbach listened, reconsidered, and delivered exactly that. The V8 isn't dead. It's just had a rather expensive electrified upgrade.
