The 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 made its debut at the LA Auto Show, with 603 hp on tap.
The GLS, the largest SUV in Mercedes’ lineup, is getting the AMG 63 treatment, after the third-generation model debuted at the New York auto show earlier this year. And Mercedes brought the completely redesigned AMG version to the LA Auto Show this week, ahead of the start of sales in 2020.
The latest redesign of the standard GLS-Class made the seven-seat luxury yacht a little lighter, while stretching its wheelbase for a smoother ride. The exterior skin was made a little smoother as well, adopting the current look of Stuttgart’s SUV family while rounding out the shape of the headlights. But design-wise, the 2020 model is not a huge leap over the looks of its predecessor, opting for the look of a scaled-up version of the GLE-Class.
While the GLS 450 that debuted in New York in the spring is powered by a 362-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six paired with an electric starter/generator, and the GLS 580 churns out the 483 hp courtesy of a 4.0-liter turbocharged V8 paired with the same generator, the AMG model that is rolling into LA this week aims to offer even more power in the plush family hauler.
Powered by a biturbo 4.0-liter V8 once again teamed up with the EQ Boost starter generator, the Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 dials up the output to 603 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque, with EQ Boost serving up an additional 21 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. The future is indeed electric, as the new GLS-Class lineup shows, with the AMG model using a nine-speed Speedshift transmission to send power to all four wheels.
Just like the other GLS-Class variants in the lineup, the GLS 63 uses EQ Boost to provide power for short periods of time to aid in acceleration. And just like the others, it can work in “sailing” mode, turning the engine off entirely and relying on electrical power. EQ Boost also charges the battery via high-efficiency recuperation, saving up juice and improving overall fuel economy in the process.
The redesign of the GLS-Class has softened some of the sharper lines of the outgoing model.
The 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 will go on sale by mid-2020.
The 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 made its debut at the LA auto show.
The 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 features the EQ Boost mild hybrid system.
The GLS-Class was redesigned earlier this year, and shown at the New York auto show.
The EQ Boost system will add 21 hp for short period of times, when needed.
The 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 is appearing for the first time at the LA auto show.
This model is based on the third-generation GLS-Class, which debuted in the spring of 2019.
The GLS AMG model is about more than just extra power—the luxury seven-seater offers AMG Ride Control and air suspension, using adaptive adjustable damping selectable by the driver in comfort, sport and sport-plus modes—along with AMG Active Ride Control to respond to g forces and body lean in the corners.
“This new feature makes a significant contribution to the AMG-specific driving experience in the GLS 63,” the automaker says. “It precisely compensates body movements and ensures controllable, direct handling even at the critical limits, utilizing two independently operating, electromechanical actuators at the front and rear axle.”
A total of six driving modes should cover just about any terrain (on the school run), with AMG Dynamic Select system offering comfort, sport, sport-plus, individual, trail and sand, selectable by the driver. While the system varies parameters such as suspension damping, engine responsiveness and transmission behavior, it also varies the engine sound, which means that in sport-plus mode, it will certainly sound angrier, courtesy of an AMG performance exhaust system. Helping to bring an angry GLS 63 to a stop will be an AMG high-performance braking system, along with active speed limit assistance, which can preemptively adapt the SUV’s speed to posted speed limits, and route-based speed adaptation, which references the SUV’s position on a map to account for upcoming bends, toll booths, roundabouts and junctions. In short, there’s plenty of technology onboard that will keep an eye on the 603 horses underhood, including active brake assist with cross-traffic function, which will apply the brakes automatically if the GLS 63 detects slow traffic up ahead, in addition to bicyclists and pedestrians.
When it comes to optional features, the GLS 63 will offer an executive rear seat package with a center console, along with a 7-inch MBUX tablet for the reat seat passengers, while an even fancier version will serve up heated and ventilated seats in the rear. Items like carbon-fiber interior trim probably won’t save any weight that drivers will be able to feel on the road, but other optional features like the head-up display and the Burmester 3D surround sound system could prove to be popular items, along with wheels stretching up to 23 inches in diameter—it’s a large Mercedes, after all.
The GLS 63 will go on sale by mid-2020 as a 2021 model—it won’t be here for a while—but the non-AMG GLS-Class models are going on sale right about now.
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