The next-gen Mercedes-AMG GLC 63e was spotted recently by our spy photographers. The other versions have been spotted in the past, but not this high-performance model. There is a lot of skin on it, but the AMG design elements are still evident. The highlight of the upcoming SUV will be the hybrid four-pot engine that will fill the big shoe of a V-8 engine.

What’s Special This Time?

The next-gen GLC will be underpinned on the same platform as the C-Class. The model spotted here is the GLC63e in the AMG-spec. Despite being camouflaged, there are many giveaways. For starters, it is evident that there’s a Panamericana grille up front. You can also see large air intakes on the bumper.

The SUV rides on lightweight wheels and sits lower than the non-AMG model. It could have a sport suspension with a reduced ride height. Ventilated discs with colored calipers that take care of the braking duties are the next thing we see here. The quad-exhaust setup on the derriere can also be associated with it being a high-performance model.

The current Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 features a 4.0-liter, bi-turbo V-8 engine that puts out 469 horses and 479 pound-feet of torque. It is mated to a nine-speed AMG-Speedshift automatic gearbox with a 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system. It takes 3.8 seconds to sprint to 60 mph.

Mercedes has, however, ditched the big mill for the next-gen model. In the AMG C63, there’s a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbocharge plug-in hybrid mill. The combined power output from the engine and the rear-mounted electric motor would be 643 horses! In all likelihood, the same setup will be available on the 2023 GLC 63e as well. The GLC also seems to have rear-axle steering that makes maneuvering the vehicle quite convenient.

Conclusion

For all we know, the four-cylinder hybrid setup will be better and we won’t feel four pots missing when compared to the outgoing model; but, will we be able to convince our minds? The next-gen GLC is speculated to arrive late next year, so we will have our answer by then. What are your thoughts on the top-of-the-line AMG GLC 63e? Share them with us in the comments section.

Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien