Few automakers have rivaled the drive towards electric technology that Mercedes-Benz is on. From all-electric vehicles like the EQS sedan and SUV to an assortment of mild hybrids and PHEVs, this German luxury automaker has a commanding presence in the ever-expanding market. Two more vehicles have gotten the electric treatment in recent years. For 2024, the Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance sedan switched from gas-only to PHEV form. In 2025, the Mercedes-AMG GLC63 S E Performance coupe/SUV debuted with PHEV operation.
However, people have already noticed something odd about them. A typical PHEV has an electric-only range of 20 to 40 miles, with some reaching 60-plus. But according to the manufacturer, the shared powertrain for these vehicles has an EPA-estimated range of a mere one mile. That isn’t even enough for me to reach the gas station nearest to my home. (Some users have reported they can get up to six miles with lighter driving.)
In an age where all-electric range is constantly increasing (InsideEVs reports that the median range went from 84 miles in 2014 to 283 miles in 2024 per the U.S. Department of Energy), it seems odd for Mercedes-Benz to go the opposite direction. But is it really all that odd? I decided to take a deep dive into this phenomenon of an automaker offering a PHEV with almost no electric-only capability.
Understanding the AMG Name
To make sense of having a one-mile PHEV range, one first needs to understand a little about AMG and how Mercedes-Benz uses this nameplate for its vehicles. AMG was born in 1967 as a performance-based automotive company focused on racing engines. The company was founded by two former Mercedes-Benz engineers, so it was logical that they soon started modifying Mercedes-Benz vehicles for competition. Their place was cemented in 1971 when a modified Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 finished second in the famous Spa 24 Hours endurance race.
The unofficial alliance between AMG and Mercedes-Benz became official in 1994 when the two signed an agreement to develop vehicles together. The pact also let AMG use what was then the Daimler-Benz AG dealership network. In 1999, the renamed DaimlerChrysler AG bought a controlling interest in AMG before acquiring the rest in 2005. Today, Mercedes-AMG operates as a division of Mercedes-Benz AG, working independently to develop high-performance versions of assorted Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
AMG and PHEVs
This brings us to the newest iteration of the Mercedes-AMG C63 and the inaugural Mercedes-AMG GLC63. The technology is certainly PHEV, but the all-electric range is lacking. According to Mercedes-AMG Director of Vehicle Development Steffen Jastrow, the reasoning behind this is simple. The PHEV system in the Mercedes-AMG C63 and GLC63 wasn’t designed for maximum range or fuel efficiency. It was designed for great performance. Mercedes-AMG engineers want these vehicles to be as fast and exciting as possible, and they are using PHEV elements to achieve this.
One only has to look as far as the battery pack on the C63 and GLC63 to see what’s meant by a performance design. At 6.1 kWh, it’s one of the smallest batteries currently in use on a PHEV. For comparison, the battery pack on the regular Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e PHEV is 24.8 kWh, and the vehicle can travel an EPA-estimated 54 miles using this power source.
While these AMG vehicles can technically go into all-electric mode using the small battery, again, it’s not the intended use. Per Jastrow, the battery system holds a power reserve for the trio of electric motors (two for the engine, one for the rear axle), giving you full acceleration when you put the gas pedal to the floorboards. Smashing the pedal also activates the kick-down detent mechanism, which, in turn, drops the transmission to a lower gear and awakens the internal combustion engine. Even if you were in all-electric mode, pressing hard on the pedal will automatically take you out of it.
The pack operates its best when it’s charged to a level between 20 and 95%, though it can be discharged to 10% in certain situations. Each vehicle has regenerative braking to recover some battery energy, but the primary method is plugging into an outlet. To this end, AMG has prioritized charging quickly so you can get back to full power. The battery pack only takes an hour to fully recharge in regular mode using a 240V Level 2 outlet. If you activate Race Mode, you can plug the vehicle in with the gas engine running and reach full charge in just 10 minutes.
Does the PHEV Tech Deliver Great Performance?
If an automaker is going to focus its PHEV technology on performance, the vehicles had better live up to that promise. So here are the specs. In both the Mercedes-AMG C63 and GLC63, the engine and motors combine to deliver 671 hp and 752 lb-ft of torque. What’s more remarkable is that these numbers are achieved using a 2.0L turbo-four engine just like the base model of the C-Class and GLC-Class series. Admittedly, it’s been seriously tuned up, with the 469 hp from the engine making it the most powerful inline-four used on a production vehicle. But that’s still a lot of power from just four cylinders.
On the Mercedes-AMG C63, this is a huge leap over the 503 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque on the previous 4.0L V8 engine. BMW says the C63 will go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, but in MotorTrend testing, it reached that speed in three seconds flat. Having a rear electric motor also switches the C63 from RWD to AWD, meaning more grip in high-performance situations and foul weather. Nevertheless, the powertrain remains a sore subject, with some drivers still upset that Mercedes-AMG discontinued the V8. But that’s a subject for another article.
Although there isn’t a previous high-performance vehicle in the GLC-Class to compare to, the Mercedes-AMG GLC63 is also a big jump. The next-most powerful vehicle in the GLC-Class, the AMG GLC43 mild hybrid, has a relatively puny 416 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. Acceleration is slightly slower, most likely due to the larger vehicle size. The GLC63 SUV is rated for 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, while the sedan is listed as 3.5 seconds.
Will Power-Focused Electric Hybrids Pay Off?
In articles for AutoInfluence and elsewhere, I’ve talked about one of the benefits of vehicle electrification being the ability to add more power and enhance high-performance vehicles. The Mercedes-AMG C63 and GLC63 take this aspect to its logical conclusion, using PHEV technology solely for performance purposes. The result is a scintillating amount of horsepower and an all-electric mode that’s meant to be used in a pinch.
The follow-up question is whether this use of PHEV tech catches on with other automakers and the buying public. Early results aren’t good. Mercedes-Benz doesn’t release individual vehicle sales numbers, but reports are that the Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance rollout has gone dismally, with the complicated design and underwhelming driving dynamics mentioned as reasons. It seems that power alone isn’t enough to entice buyers. (The AMG GLC63 is in its first model year, but the details will come out soon enough.)
Simplifying the powertrain while keeping performance at that same level may not be possible. But if Mercedes-AMG can take its impressive powertrain and put it in a vehicle that is more fun to drive, it may have something for the adrenaline enthusiasts.
