The GLC Coupe is a baby in Mercedes’ lineup, featuring a hatchback body with raised suspension to go with a 241-horsepower engine and all the luxury features one has come to expect from German vehicles. The GLC Coupe has barely started gracing showrooms, but the lineup is now complete with the GCL43 Coupe and the newly announced GLC63 and GLC63 S Coupe. Powered by an AMG, 4.0-liter V-8, you can stare down the competition with either 476 horsepower in standard form or 510 horsepower in S form. Keep in mind that this is the same engine used in the AMG GT family as is that prominent Panamericana grille that graces the nose of the beast. Add the motivation together with the grille and the more aggressive fascias, and you’ve got yourself the perfect mix of power, style, space, comfort, and agility all in one Germanly sexy package.

If there’s one thing we can be sure of, it’s that humans, as a species, are never happy with what they have and always want more. It’s the same reason brands like Microsoft and Sony can get away with producing a gaming system, then producing a “slimmer” model just a few years later. It’s also one of the reasons why your cell phone is outdated just a few months after you buy it – manufacturers know that you’ll be willing to pay again to get the next big thing.

Getting back on topic, that’s also why the world now has a handful of coupes that ride on SUV suspensions like the Mercedes GLC Coupe, the F-Pace, and the Porsche Macan – the latter of which both compete with the GLC Coupe in one way or another. And, despite there being a limited number of these coupe crossovers on the market, the competition is actually pretty stiff between the models that are available.

The Mercedes-AMG GLC63 is a pretty wild ride in its own regard, but the GLC63 Coupe pushes that performance and styling to a whole new level – one that’s synonymous with the other “63” models from the AMG world. So, let’s dive on in a take a look at AMG’s latest and greatest.

Continue reading to learn more about the Mercedes-AMG GLC63 Coupe.

Exterior

As is the usual case with AMG-branded models, the body shell itself is identical to that of the standard GLC Coupe. That means you get the same hood with mild lines, mediumly aggressive bodylines along the side profile, and the exorbitant roof that provides SUV proportions up front and coupe-like proportions in the rear. The doors are rather tall with short glass up top to keep things proportionate while the rear end looks like that of a blown-up sedan that sits just a little too tall for a car vehicle with a such a small rear hatch. It almost reminds me of the old Civic CRX or the new Civic Hatchback. So, what separates the AMG-branded GLC Coupe from the standard offering?

Well, let’s take another look at the front end again. First off, the most noticeable thing is the Panamericana grille up front that takes the place of the standard AMG grille. Previously reserved for the AMG GT line of whips, the vertical and chrome slats accent the Mercedes emblem nicely and add to the overall look of height that Mercedes was going for with this overgrown and jacked up coupe. You get the same headlight lenses as you do with the non-AMG model, but down below a new fascia gives the GLC63 its own unique look. Instead of having an insert that surrounds the air dam and a standalone vent in each corner, an insert in the fascia that looks something like a moustache with curved tips carves out a slightly larger air dam and more upright vents. Those corner vents are linked together thanks to the design of the insert. The lip down below adds just a little more character.

When it comes to the side profile, you won’t find a lot of change, however, the GLC63 does get a new set of side skirts to match that front lip. It also comes standard with 19-inch, light alloy, 10-spoke wheels as standard equipment. These wheels come finished in titanium gray and measure eight-inches wide in the front and nine-inches wide in the rear. The GLC63 S gets 20-inch, five-spoke units that are finished in titanium gray and measure 9.5-inches in the front and 10-inches in the rear. You can also opt for the optional 21-inch wheels on both GLC63 models, but that’ll surely set you back a few extra grand.

Around back, the most dominating feature is that new diffuser unit with twin, dual exhaust outlets finished in chrome and the light chrome strip in between. The rear fascia itself is identical to that of the standard GLC Coupe, but the taillights get a clear lens, and the rear hatch gets a new lip that’s finished in the same black as the front lip and side skirts. If you can get past the awkwardness of the tall rear end and short rear glass, the GLC63 and GLC63 S really are an attractive pair.

Before we move on, though, let’s talk a bit more about options. AMG’s Performance Studio offers plenty of extras if you really want to make your GLC63 standout in the crowd. First off is the AMG Night Package which adds on a bunch of black trim elements as shown in the pictures above. It’s a nice addition, and it includes tinted windows in the rear to go with those chrome exhaust outlets and chrome trim strip on the diffuser. You can also opt for the Exterior Carbon Fiber Package that includes a few Carbon fiber trim pieces, your choice of 20 and 21-inch light-alloy or forged wheels with two different color choices and some extra additions to the interior that we’ll talk about more a little later.

Exterior Options

The Competition

When it comes to competition, there aren’t too many coupe-like vehicles rolling on SUV suspension. But, there are a few, and a couple of the most prominent ones are the Jaguar F-Pace and the Porsche Macan Turbo. When it comes to the F-Pace, the real competition for the GLC63 Coupe will be the Jaguar F-Pace R. It, like the GLC63 Coupe has only been seen in prototype form, rocking a ton of camo. It will have larger corner air intakes and an R-Badge. Around back it should get a sportier roof spoiler to go with a mildly revised lower fascia to promote better aerodynamics. R-specific wheels should round out the exterior package.

Then you’ve got the Porsche Macan. Unlike the GLC Coupe and the F-Pace, there isn’t word on a more extreme version of the Macan as of yet. That means the best you can get is the Macan Turbo with some 400 horsepower on tap. But, as far as the exterior goes, there’s nothing special about the Macan Turbo of the entry-level model or the Macan S. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t a sporty proposition, though, as it does have its own unique styling to it. Up front, it has a no-nonsense grille to go with a wide air dam and small fog lights mounted in the corners. The side profile is quite sporty, with a sculpted body line down below that matches the contour of the front fascia. The rear windows come darkly tinted from the factory. Around back, the Macan is unmistakable as a Porsche. It features traditional Porsche taillights and a small overhang atop the angled rear glass. The lower portion of the fascia is a massive insert that houses the two rectangular exhaust outlets and has a diffuser-like appearance to it.

Of course, the GLC63 won’t be much more extreme than the GLC43, so models like the F-Pace R and the Macan Turbo should stack up fairly well against the final product.

Interior

Like the standard GLC Coupe, the interior mimics the hell out of the GT R Coupe on the inside, albeit with a center console that isn’t quite as wide, three central HVAC vents, and an unobstructed infotainment display. As such, the GLC63 doesn’t have the large panels of buttons on each side of the console, and instead has a cleaner switch layout that hugs the touchpad and AMG Dynamic Select switch. It’s a cleaner look, really and beneficial for the GLC has far as interior space goes. Sports seats come as standard equipment in the GLC63 and offer outstanding support. Like the dash, the seats are wrapped in ARTICO man-made leather but also feature DINAMICA microfiber inserts which adds a little extra style. Like the seats, the dash gets white contrast stitching. Meanwhile, the trim inserts on the dash and door trim panels are replaced by aluminum trim for a more upscale but industrial look that somehow works really well inside this cabin.

If you opt for the GLC63 S Coupe, you’ll get a performance steering wheel that’s wrapped in Nappa leather, AMG badges on the front head restraints with leather accents and an AMG instrument cluster that features red backlighting. Outside of these few things, there’s nothing else that separates the GLC63 Coupe from the standard model, but if you dive into the options pool, you can customize the interior a bit more if it really suits your personality. The AMG Night Package doesn’t offer much for the interior, but going with the AMG Performance Studio Interior will get you a number of interior extras that include carbon fiber trim, more ARTICO leather, and a two-tone interior layout, among other things.

Competing Designs

The F-Pace R should feature a more upscale cabin compared to the standard model but will maintain a lot of the basic design features – including the weird wall that pretty much blocks the passenger from accessing the infotainment system. Then again, some would argue that you never play with another man’s radio, so maybe it’s not that bad. Upgrades to the F-Pace R’s interior should include performance seats with extra support that are wrapped in premium leather. The headrests should get “R” logos, while the seat bolsters will likely be inflatable for adjustable support. The seats and steering wheel should get built-in heating as standard equipment, while all of that leather will be held together by contrast stitching in Ivory, Red, or Firesand. We also expect the interior to feature R-specific graphics for the infotainment system and a 770-watt sound system from Meridian. An updated instrument cluster isn’t out of the question, but that may be a bit of a reach at this point.

If you’re considering the Macan Turbo, it might not have that AMG or “R” twist to it, but that doesn’t mean it’s not noteworthy. See, Porsche actually nailed the cabin in the Macan, and it’s really a nice place to be. First off you can have an all-black interior or a two-tone interior. My personal favorite is black and red, but there’s also black and white which provides an oddly pleasing contrast. The steering wheel is comparable to that of the 918 Spider and is primarily carbon fiber with a little bit of leather. There’s a 4.8-inch color display inside the instrument cluster to go with the Porsche Communication Management system that is slightly recessed into the center stack. The Macan comes standard with a 300-watt, 16-speaker, Burmester sound system with a class-D amplifier, but a Bose system with 545 watts and 14 speakers is also available.

Drivetrain

In standard from, the GLC Coupe comes with a 2.0-liter four-banger that’s good for 241 horsepower, 273 pound-feet of torque, and a 6.4-second sprint to 60 mph. Meanwhile, the Mercedes-AMG GLC43 gets an AMG-enhanced 3.0-liter V-6 that’s good for 362 ponies, 384 pound-feet, and a 4.8-second sprint to 60 mph. Even that 3.0-liter isn’t enough for the GLC63, though, so AMG decided to go with the same 4.0-liter, Biturbo, V-8 that’s found in the AMG GT lineup. In the case of the GLC63, however, it delivers 476 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque and can get the non-S model up to 60 mph in four seconds flat. If you go with the GLC63 S, you’ll get the same engine, but it’s tuned to deliver 510 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque – enough to get the S up to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. Both models top out at 155 mph, which as you probably already know, is an electronically limited top speed.

Both models come standard with the same transmission that debuted in the Mercedes-AMG E63 4Matic+, an AMG nine-speed with a wet clutch coupling mechanism that helps save weight and provides better response overall. AMG 4Matic+ all-wheel drive is standard equipment and offers up variable torque distribution for the best possible handling on just about any road condition. AMG Dynamic Select is available with the usual driving modes, but the GLC63 S also gets a “Race” setting to tunes everything for the absolute best performance.

Under the body, you’ll find a new AMG suspension system with a four-link design up front and a multi-link setup in the rear. The three-chamber air suspension system offers up continuously variable damping and can bring a bit of smoothness to rough roads or keep things chilled out when cornering hard. The system is adjusted automatically based on what drive mode is selected and will automatically harden up to cut down body roll under heavy pitch changes. All told, the GLC63 offers up a combined fuel consumption of as much as 22.84 mpg while the GLC63 S offers up 21.98 mpg.

Competing Performance

Macan engine.

Making things even more interesting is what the competition brings to the table. Starting off with the least-powerful in the mix, the Porsche Macan Turbo is worthy of consideration but doesn’t quite float the bill if your primary concern is power. The Macan Turbo makes use of a 3.6-liter V-6 that has a pair of turbochargers and direct fuel injection. Power output is limited to just 400 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. It does have all-wheel drive as standard equipment which helps it to his 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. Opting for the Sport Chrono package will get you to the same benchmark in 4.4 seconds. Top speed is said to be 164 mph, and shifting duties are handled by a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. This isn’t that bad at all, but it’s not quite up to par with what we expect from the GLC63 coupe.

Moving over to the F-Pace R, we have no idea what will really be stashed under the hood, but Jag could go with a supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 or a slightly detuned version of the 5.0-liter V-8. In current form that V-8 offers some 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque, so this engine could be reserved for the F-Pace SVR, which would be an excellent competitor for the GLC63 S Coupe. Either way, we expect the F-Pace Type R to produce somewhere in the neighborhood of 460 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque when it makes its debut, but Jag could really push the envelope and go closer to 500, still leaving a decent gap between the R and the SVR. The F-Pace R could hit the 60-mph sprint in anywhere between 4.1 and 4.6 seconds with top speed electronically locked at 155 mph. Either way, that’s a lot of power and a quick burst of speed for something that doesn’t linger an inch or two above the ground.

The Macan might not be quite as powerful, and the F-Pace R could decimate even the GLC63 Coupe if done correctly, but for now, the only model actually in production is the Macan Turbo. So, if you don’t want to wait, the Macan Turbo is your best bet for now. The F-Pace R should be unleashed for the 2018 model as will the GLC63 Coupe.

Prices

At this point, the pricing for the GLC63 Coupe is a complete mystery. We do know that the GLC43 carries an MSRP of $59,650 for the 2017 model year, so expect to pay at least $80,000 for the GLC63 Coupe and even more if Merc comes out with the GLC63 S. For reference the F-Pace R is expected to retail for around $75,500 and the Macan Turbo can be had for $76,000 in base form or $86,445 with the performance package. Mercedes-AMG will start taking orders starting in June of 2017 and will initiate market launch in September of 2017. Official pricing will be announced when the order books open, so check back soon for updates.

Competition

Audi SQ5

The reason I haven’t discussed the SQ5 up until this point is because it is dramatically underpowered compared to the GLC63 and the other models we’ve discussed. To be more specific, the SQ5 can only be had with a 3.0-liter V-6 that delivers 354 horsepower and 346 pound-feet of torque. It takes 5.1 seconds to hit 60 mph with top speed limited to 155 mph. It does offer decent amenities, however, including things like a panoramic sunroof, keyless start, dynamic steering, Audi Connect, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system with 14 speakers and 505 watts of power on tap. Pricing for the 2017 SQ5 starts out at $53,300 for the Premium Plus trim with the Prestige trim commanding $60,800. With that said, it’s obviously not as powerful as the other models we’ve discussed here, but it also comes at a significantly lower price.

Read more about the Audi SQ5 here.

Conclusion

The GLC63 Coupe will surely be a big hit among AMG fans, and now that Merc is about to unleash the GLC63 and GLC 63 S Coupes, it will be the icing on top of the cake. Sure, the models will be expensive and aren’t for everybody, but the GLC63 will offer a lot more oomph and get-up that the GLC43, which is exactly what we all want. I still wish that AMG would do more, maybe add more a more aggressive spoiler and a better-looking body kit. Even a slightly more aggressive hood would display the car’s performance prowess. Compared to models like the F-Pace R and the Macan Turbo, the GLC63 just might have its work cut out for it in one way or another. What do you think?