If the G63 AMG were an animal, according to the principles of Darwinian evolution, it simply wouldn’t exist. After all, who really needs a 5,610-pound, body-on-ladder-frame SUV that can sprint from 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds, on its way to a governed top speed of 131 mph? Aside from third-world dictators, drug lords and Beverly Hills soccer moms, the market for such a beast is, at best, limited.
As Chris Harris points out, the G63 AMG doesn’t handle particularly well and it delivers a punishing ride over all but smooth surfaces. What, then, is the appeal, and why did Mercedes project enough sales to warrant development? As far as we can tell, it comes down to bragging rights. Porsche’s most powerful Cayenne Turbo, equipped with the Power Kit, produces 540 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. BMW’s X5 M gets 555 horsepower, but makes due with a paltry 501 pound-feet of torque.
The G63 AMG, meanwhile, gets 544 horsepower and an impressive 560 pound-feet of torque from its 5.5-liter, twin-turbo V-8 engine. That’s plenty to outrun rebel forces, rival drug gangs or simply make it to your therapy session in time, on any road surface, in (almost) any weather. That is, of course, if the road you’re on doesn’t have too many curves.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
