A new straight-six plug-in hybrid producing up to 600 bhp will replace the four-cylinder PHEV setup used in today’s GLC 63. Mercedes-AMG is lining up a new range-topping GLC performance model that will debut later this year, consolidating two existing SUVs into a single, more powerful offering.
Set to arrive as part of a mid-cycle update for the second-generation, combustion-powered GLC, the new GLC 53 will adopt the plug-in hybrid powertrain currently used in the E53. In doing so, it will effectively replace both the GLC 43 hybrid and the GLC 63 PHEV in AMG’s lineup.
The new setup pairs a turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six petrol engine with an electric motor integrated into the transmission. In its most aggressive calibration, output peaks at 612 bhp in Race mode, alongside 553 lb-ft of torque. Under normal driving conditions, the system delivers 577 bhp.
In E53 form, this powertrain enables a 0–62 mph sprint of 3.8 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. Thanks to a 21.2 kWh lithium-ion battery, it also offers an electric-only driving range of up to 63 miles.
The shift to the GLC 53 marks AMG’s move away from the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that underpins the outgoing GLC 43 and GLC 63 PHEV. According to a source, the decision stems from the four-cylinder’s inability to comply with the latest EU-mandated noise regulations.
As a result, production of the GLC 43 is expected to conclude by the end of February, with the GLC 63 reportedly set to follow in May.
Beyond its new powertrain, the GLC 53 will receive updated exterior styling and debut the latest generation of Mercedes-Benz’s MB.OS operating system. When it reaches UK dealerships next year, it will face direct competition from the upcoming successor to the BMW X3 M50, which is scheduled to arrive several months earlier.
This streamlining of AMG’s internal-combustion GLC range comes ahead of the introduction of a high-performance version of the electric GLC EQ. Insiders suggest that model will employ three axial-flux motors, combining to produce more than 900 bhp.
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