Mercedes-AMG has confirmed it is developing a full-size SUV entirely in-house and from the ground up for the first time in its 59-year history. The new model, the Mercedes-AMG GT SUV, is the second vehicle to be built on the company's AMG.EA high-performance architecture and will be offered in three variants: the GT 53, GT 55 and GT 63.
According to the Affalterbach-based manufacturer, the vehicle combines the presence of a full-size SUV with driving characteristics associated with a sports car. The company cites a sporty seating position, a low centre of gravity and a low, dynamic silhouette as defining elements of the design, while stating that these features do not compromise the practical qualities expected of the segment.
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The GT SUV follows the first AMG.EA-based model, the electric GT 4-Door Coupé, and forms part of the performance division's move to develop dedicated vehicles rather than derivatives of standard Mercedes-Benz products. The flagship GT 63 SUV uses three axial flux electric motors, two on the rear axle and one booster motor at the front, producing a combined peak output of 860 kW and 2 000 Nm of torque. The mid-range GT 55 produces 600 kW and 1 860 Nm, while the entry GT 53 uses two synchronous motors for a combined 400 kW and 800 Nm.
Mercedes-AMG claims the GT 63 can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 2,7 seconds, with the GT 55 completing the same sprint in 3,1 seconds and the GT 53 in 4,2 seconds. Top speed for the GT 63 is listed at 270 km/h with the optional Driver's Package.
The high-voltage battery is an 800-volt unit with directly cooled cylindrical cells, offered in usable capacities of 106 kWh or 128 kWh. Mercedes-AMG claims a WLTP range of up to 700 km with the larger battery. Maximum DC charging power is listed at 710 kW for the 128 kWh pack and 600 kW for the 106 kWh unit. The company says the larger battery can add up to 454 km of WLTP range in 10 minutes under optimal conditions.
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The GT 63 receives AMG Active Ride Control+ suspension as standard, which replaces conventional anti-roll bars with active hydraulic elements and air springs. Rear-axle steering is standard across the range, with the rear wheels able to turn up to 6 degrees opposite the fronts at speeds below 80 km/h.
The vehicle measures up to 5 084 mm in length, 2 001 mm in width and 1 656 mm in height, riding on a 3 040 mm wheelbase. Boot capacity is listed at 607 litres with the rear seats upright, expanding to 1 740 litres when folded, plus a 78-litre storage compartment under the bonnet.
The GT 53 is expected to be available to order in Europe from October 20, with the GT 55 and GT 63 following in the northern spring of 2027. South African availability has not yet been announced and AMG has not released pricing for any variant. The division's current lineup includes performance versions of Mercedes-Benz models as well as the independently developed AMG GT coupe range. The new SUV represents the first time the division has taken full responsibility for a full-size SUV from the outset.
AMG was founded in 1967 by Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher in Affalterbach, initially as an engineering firm specialising in racing engines and tuning. The company has been fully owned by Mercedes-Benz since 2005 and has increasingly developed standalone models, a strategy the GT SUV extends to the full-size SUV category.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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