A sportscar on stilts is no more an oddity, thanks to the thousands of Porsche Cayennes and BMW X5Ms ripping apart express highways around the world. But never has a performance car had such high strides as Affalterbach's latest entrant. Ladies and gentlemen, here's the Big Daddy of super SUVs, the GL63 AMG.
When Mercedes-Benz presented the 2013 GL-Class at the New York show a couple of months back, it stressed the spacious cabin, the hi-tech safety features and above all, the comfort levels that, according to Mercedes, are on a par with the S-Class. We totally believe that having lived with a GL450 for two months last year. But it was apparent from the bolder, more angular lines of the new GL that Mercedes had more in mind for the latest iteration of the mighty SUV.
If, just like us, the 63 badge set has you slobbering over the prospect of the 6.2-litre V8 from the SLS screaming away under the chunky bonnet, hold that drool, as the new 5.5-litre twin-turbo mill has found its way into the GL as well. That's not saying it's a bad thing at all, as you can see from the figures of 557bhp and a whopping 760Nm of torque. This means the colossus can hurtle itself from standstill to 100kph in an astoundingly quick 4.9 seconds before topping out at an electronically limited 250kph.
Channelling all this grunt onto the ground through all four corners is the seven-speed AMG Speedshift Plus automatic transmission, which features a fuel-economy converter with centrifugal pendulum and other additions that help increase efficiency and reduce emissions.
Further adding to its sporting credentials is the ‘active curve' system that reduces body roll, the scourge of most SUVs. Thanks to a more robustly designed rear axle stabiliser bar and a few other tweaks, Mercedes claims the GL's steering has more precision and feedback than before. And taking care of the onerous task of reining in all those horses and the massive kerb weight are the AMG high-performance brakes — 390mm discs up front, and 345mm discs at the rear.
Visually, the GL63 features all of the usual AMG cues like large front air intakes lined by LED running lamps, matte silver trim inserts and flared arches.
