AMG Swaps V8s in the GLE 63 S and GLS 63, Same 603 HP But Sharper Response

Just months after Mercedes rolled out the refreshed GLE, GLE Coupe, and a new-generation GLS, AMG has followed up with its own high-performance takes on both SUVs. The GLE 63 S and GLS 63 arrive with a shared powertrain that blends serious speed with the brand's usual dose of luxury, though Mercedes hasn't released pricing just yet.

The headline change isn't more horsepower—it's a completely different engine architecture doing the same job. Both SUVs now use AMG's new M177 EVO, a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 built around a flat-plane crankshaft, the same design that recently debuted in the updated S-Class and is set to roll out across other AMG models going forward. Output lands at exactly 603 hp, identical to the outgoing cross-plane V8, but AMG says the new crank design sharpens throttle response and improves overall efficiency, even if the peak number on the spec sheet hasn't budged.

Torque tells a similar story of refinement over brute escalation. Both the GLE 63 S (in SUV and Coupe form) and the GLS 63 produce 627 lb-ft between 2,500 and 4,500 rpm. Backing up the V8 is a 48-volt mild-hybrid system with an integrated starter generator, contributing an additional 23 hp and 151 lb-ft on top of the combustion engine's figures. Power routes through AMG's Speedshift TCT nine-speed automatic and the brand's 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system, complete with fully variable torque distribution front to rear.

The performance numbers reflect that blend of hybrid assistance and mechanical tuning. The GLE 63 S sprints to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, while the larger, heavier GLS 63 needs 3.9 seconds to hit the same mark. Both SUVs top out at an identical, electronically capped 174 mph, proof that despite their size and weight, AMG's engineers have kept these three-row and mid-size luxury haulers genuinely quick.

Handling hasn't been ignored either. Both models get Ride Control+ air suspension with adaptive damping across multiple drive modes. A Trail setting raises ride height by 2.2 inches for light off-road use, though realistically, few GLE or GLS owners will ever point these SUVs down a dirt road. Switch to Sport, Sport+, or Comfort, and the suspension drops 0.4 inches below standard ride height instead. AMG's Active Ride Control system works alongside the air springs to limit body roll and pitch, while a variable torque split and electronically controlled rear locking differential aim to keep these large SUVs composed when pushed hard.

Visually, the changes are more restrained than you'd find on AMG's smaller performance cars. The GLE gets a blacked-out grille and reworked front air intakes, while the GLS keeps a more traditional chrome grille treatment. Wheel sizes climb to 22 inches on the GLE and 23 inches on the GLS, and both wear the quad exhaust tips that have become an AMG signature. Inside, buyers get AMG's latest Performance steering wheel in leather, microfiber, or a mix of both, along with unique upholstery choices and generous use of carbon fiber trim.

What's notable here isn't a chase for bigger horsepower figures, but AMG choosing to refine how that power is delivered. The flat-plane crank swap signals where AMG's V8 lineup is headed next, prioritizing responsiveness and engine character over simply inflating spec-sheet numbers, a shift worth watching as this new M177 EVO spreads to more models in the range.