Mercedes-AMG GLS 63Nadine Filion / Los Angles What is it?Yet another uber-powered sport-brute in the Mercedes-AMG performance division, this one both more powerful and emissions-conscious than ever.Why does it matter?Well, the GLS is the biggest SUV in Mercedes lineup and now, with its AMG-tuned 4.0-litre enhanced with EQ Boost electrification, its the baddest. In regular AMG 63 guise, the twin-turbo V8 is enhanced by the starter-generators 21 horses for a total of 603 horsepower. More impressively, the EQ produces 184 pound-feet of the 63s driveshaft-twisting 627 lb.-ft. Zero to 60 mph (96 km/h) is said to take 4.1 seconds, incredibly quick for a gargantuan three-row SUV. Top speed is 280 km/h and even that is electronically limited. Theres no mention of the new GLSs fuel economy, but previous 48-volt mild hybrids from Mercedes have boasted a slight increase in fuel economy despite their increased performance.Check out all of our latest auto show coverage hereOther performance enhancements include the nine-speed Speedshift transmission that allows for multi-gear downshifts; for instance, you can kick down from fifth to third and directly from ninth to fifth. AMGs Ride Control+ air suspension, meanwhile, keeps the heavy no curb weight announced but dont expect it to be any lighter than the current GLS 450s 2,425 kilograms from rolling excessively during hard cornering. Sport and Sport+ modes lower the suspension by 10 millimetres when you start getting serious about speed. There are even electronically controlled roll bars at both ends that, according to Mercedes, almost keeps the big GLS flat round hairpins. All told, this is one family hauler that will always be on time for soccer practice. When is it coming? The GLS 63 will launch in the U.S. in mid-2020, but Canadian availability is yet to be determined.Should you buy it?Do you have the requisite $140,000 or so? Do you really want to scare your children or anyone in the rear seats, for that matter that much? Or, do you just need the biggest, baddest SUV in Mercedes lineup? If the answer to any or all of those questions is yes, then maybe you should be shopping the GLS 63. If not, the basic 450 4Matic version will probably do you just
Origin: Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 is a three-row sport-brute with 603 HP