Mercedes-AMG showed its first SUV built on its own dedicated electric platform on the evening of Saturday 17 October, outside the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. Called the GT SUV, it is the second model on that platform, AMG.EA, after the battery-powered GT 4-Door Coupé shown in May.
AMG chief Stefan Weckbach presented the car in heavy rain to an audience of employees and guests that the Stuttgarter Zeitung put at about 15,000. The SUV was developed in Affalterbach and will be built in Sindelfingen.
Three versions, two kinds of motor
The range opens with the GT 53. It uses two conventional synchronous motors, one on each axle, with a two-speed gearbox at the rear. Output is 400 kW (544 PS) and 800 Nm.
The GT 55 and GT 63 switch to axial-flux motors: two driving the rear wheels and a third at the front. These flat, compact units come from the Mercedes plant at Berlin-Marienfelde. The GT 55 makes 600 kW (816 PS), while the GT 63 reaches 860 kW (1,169 PS) and 2,000 Nm.
Acceleration claims vary with how they are measured. ADAC and Autocar India give 0–100 km/h times of 4.2 seconds for the GT 53, 3.1 seconds for the GT 55 and 2.7 seconds for the GT 63, though AMG's own website shows 2.5 seconds for the GT 63. Both faster cars can reach 270 km/h with the optional Driver's Package; the GT 53 tops out at 250 km/h.
Peak power is only part of the story. AMG says the GT 63 can hold 530 kW under sustained load, which says more about how hard it can be driven for long periods than the headline figure does.
Battery and charging
Every version uses an 800-volt battery made of cylindrical cells, each cooled directly by an oil that does not conduct electricity. The GT 53 has 106 kWh of usable capacity, and the GT 55 and GT 63 can be specified with 128 kWh. WLTP range is up to 668 km for the GT 53 and up to 700 km for the larger-battery cars.
The charging claims stand out more than the power figures. With the bigger battery, AMG quotes a DC peak of up to 710 kW, a 10 to 80 per cent charge in about 12 minutes, and roughly 450 km of WLTP range added in 10 minutes. The GT 53 peaks at 600 kW. ADAC reports that on a more common 400 kW charger, the 128 kWh car needs about 16 minutes for the same 10 to 80 per cent charge.
AMG notes that all of these figures are provisional and have not yet been confirmed through type approval.
Size, cabin and character
This is a big vehicle: 5,084 mm long and 2,001 mm wide, on a 3,040 mm wheelbase. ADAC gives the GT 63's weight as up to 2,695 kg. The boot holds 607 litres, with extra storage under the bonnet.
Rear-axle steering is standard. The GT 63 also comes with carbon-ceramic brakes and AMG's Active Ride Control+, which uses hydraulic units instead of conventional anti-roll bars to control body movement.
Inside, a 14-inch central touchscreen sits beside a 10.2-inch instrument display, with an optional third screen for the front passenger. The MBUX system runs on Mercedes' own MB.OS software and can call on ChatGPT, Microsoft Bing and Google Gemini. A selectable sound mode imitates an AMG V8, or a six-cylinder in the GT 53, complete with simulated gearshifts.
Price and timing
In Germany, orders for the GT 53 open on 20 October, with prices from €113,050. The GT 55 and GT 63 follow in early 2027. German prices for those two had not been published in the launch coverage we reviewed.
What it means for South African owners
We could find no statement from Mercedes-Benz South Africa on whether the GT SUV will be sold here. When the electric GT 4-Door Coupé was revealed in May, Business Day reported that local availability had yet to be confirmed, and we found no update for either car at the time of writing.
Anyone interested should think about charging before price. The SUV's 710 kW peak is almost six times the rating of the new 120 kW DC chargers that GridCars said in July it would roll out across its South African network. A 120 kW unit can deliver at most 20 kWh in 10 minutes, compared with the 83 kWh ADAC says the big-battery car can take in the same time on a fast enough charger.
- No South African price or launch date has been announced for the GT SUV.
- In Germany, the GT 53 is the first version on sale; the GT 55 and GT 63 follow in early 2027.
- Quoted range, charging and performance figures are provisional and may change before type approval.
- Local charging speeds will be set by the charger, not the car, so plan routes and home charging accordingly.
If Mercedes-Benz South Africa confirms local plans, we will report pricing and specification once they are official.
Written by Mercedes-Benz Owners, an independent club. Not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Mercedes-Benz. Details can change; check with an authorised dealer before you buy.