How much power is too much?
Incoming US president Donald Trump will no doubt have his own, unique view.
But it’s the whole planet - and not just those who mark their address as 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue - where the getting and wielding of power is taking a whole new meaning.
We’re told that in politics with great power comes great responsibility. But there’s very little responsible about this car - the latest progeny from Mercedes-Benz’s performance range that’s set to turn the performance market on its ear.
Meet the Mercedes-Benz GLC 63 S E Performance Coupe.
Quite a mouthful? Sure, but even more of a machine.
Part four-cylinder city runabout. Part Formula One world-beater. Part high-performance baby SUV.
And 100 per cent insanity. No wonder the good folks at Mercedes describe it as a “technical masterpiece”.
It feels a bit like what might happen when the mad scientists from Mercedes’ Affalterbach skunkworks (AMG) enjoy a glass or two of schnapps before tackling this wild project.
The GLC is, ostensibly, the latest iteration of Mercedes’ popular, sensible GLC300 - the SUV version of the volume-selling C-Class sedan.
Fair enough.
But this is where things get wild.
First, the standard four-cylinder, mild hybrid engine of the GLC is replaced by what Mercedes calls “the world’s first performance hybrid”.
Providing the grunt is a souped-up, turbocharged, 2-litre petrol engine, sourced from Benz’s wild little AMG A45. Stir in an Electric Drive Unit (EVU) - the kind you might find in a Mercedes-Benz.
Formula 1 car attached to the rear axle.
It gets an energy storage system which, like the Mercedes F1 machine, combines low weight and astonishing power and the ability to discharge several electric boosts in succession. The battery offers 80kW of continuous power to assist the petrol engine, or 150kW of peak power.
The GLC “harvests” energy to recharge its batteries (just like any hybrid) but faster, like an F1 car.
Now here comes the crazy part.
This innocent-looking mid-sized SUV claims a system output of 500 kilowatts (yes, 500) - along with 1020 Newton metres of torque, as required. Yes 1020Nm - or a “Newton kilometre”, if you like.
The hybrid system can operate for up to 14km on pure electric format.
Then there’s explosive acceleration, enough to reach the speed limit in 3.5 seconds, and can be brought into action with the traditional kick-down, or via the wheel-mounted paddles.
Precise fuel consumption is a little difficult to measure in a car with three separate power systems, but you can expect about 7.3L/100km when used in hybrid mode.
There’s no doubt the EV revolution has changed the concepts of fast cars - all but the real slowpokes can now get you to 100 in less than the five-second benchmark.
And, of course, the GLC puts to bed the argument that Formula 1 racing is no longer relevant to modern-day vehicle sales.
So, what is this incredible hybrid monster like to drive?
Well, surprisingly civilised, considering the eye-watering performance and daily practicality on tap.
That’s partly because, like the F1 car, there’s a bit of fiddling about to deliver the absolute performance from this car.
Yet it can be tip-toed around the suburbs barely noticed and for all intents and purposes it looks and (mostly) sounds like your regular little Benz SUV.
The main clue is the red-shaded badges where the regular chrome AMG banner normally sits.
The test machine was the Coupe version.
An identically specified version is available in SUV wagon style as well.
And the cost? An equally surprising $198, 415 - considering an F1 machine costs tens of millions of dollars, with nowhere to put your golf clubs.
One thing: there’s also a less spectacular version of this car if the Performance Model is a little raw for you. With its six-cylinder, in-line bi-Turbo edge, the GLC 43 AMG offers a stepping off point between the pure petrol and modest power.
As for creature comforts?
Mercedes has released an Edition1 version of the GLC, which includes more than $10,000 additional luxury and features.
Well for a car with such enduring performance, the GLC builds upon the conventional version of the soft-roader which has been making its own mark on the prestige SUV market.
It follows release of all new GLC class variants this past year.
And once again the operative word is hybrid. Or mild hybrid to be precise.
But there is nothing mild about this beast.
MERCEDES-BENZ AMG GLC63 S E Performance Coupe
HOW BIG?
Identically sized to the GLC 300 tested earlier in the year. It has impressive cargo storage and seats four in comfort.
HOW FAST?
The 100km/h mark comes up in just 3.5 seconds for this hybrid rocket.
HOW THIRSTY?
You can drive 14km in pure electric form, or in hybrid format you’ll use a bit over 7L/100km.
HOW MUCH?
The tested Coupe variant tested will set you back $199,500; the wagon format is an even more tempting at $192,900
