New Mercedes-AMG GLC 53 Ditches 4-cyl PHEV For 6-cyl Power

The hotter X/C254-gen GLC crossover has been revamped with a new 6-cyl engine swap.

Revealed earlier today, the new Mercedes-AMG GLC 53 4Matic+ sees the German marque’s performance arm ditch its electrified 4-cyl ‘experiment’. Replacing both the GLC 43 and GLC 63 super-PHEV, the model underlines a new direction for the division.

Like before, standard (X254) and coupe (C254) bodystyle choices are available. Visual tweaks are minor so to speak, with this hot crossover appearing largely unchanged for the most parts – AMG-specific grille, flared wheel arches, wheels and all included.

No more electrified 4-cyl mills here, which has since been replaced by a new 3.0-litre in-line 6-cyl turbo unit instead in the GLC 53.

Straight into the new heart then, Mercedes-AMG have now brimmed the second-gen GLC crossover with a reworked version of its 3.0-litre in-line 6-cyl mill boosted an added 48-volt mild-hybrid (MHEV) starter-generator integrated in the transmission.

Combined, there’s 449 hp and 600 Nm available, while an overboost mode temporarily boost the latter up to 640 Nm for 10 secs. The MHEV system on its own briefly provides up to 22 hp and 205 Nm of extra shove to smoothen responses and fill any gaps.                                                                                                                                      

Said new V6 lump puts out 449 hp and 600 Nm of twist. The latter increases things up to 640 Nm.

As before, the package also includes a 9-speed automatic transmission plus an all-wheel-drive (AWD) setup. Notably, the latter can send 100% of drive to the rear wheels, hence the inclusion of both an optional ‘Drift Mode’ and e-diff too.

Though more powerful than the GLC 43, the new 53-spec GLC does have lower outputs versus the 63-spec’s 4-cyl PHEV. Nevertheless, this succeeding version will still despatch 0-100 km/h sprints in a rapid 4.2 secs to hit an electronically-capped V-Max of 250 km/h.

Special e-diff and 'Drift Mode' are optionally available, but RWS, adaptive damping and variable-ratio steering are all standard kit.

Typically, there’s an option to derestrict things and allow this super-SUV to hit a higher V-Max of 270 km/h instead. The bonus here is of course the new sports exhaust system with special resonators delivering the matching soundtrack – pops and cracks included.

Besides beefed-up brakes, the GLC 53 also benefits with an added rear-wheel-steering (RWS) suite offering up to 2.5-deg of articulation, followed by adaptive damping and variable-ratio steering, all aimed at bolstering drive and agility.

There's a new Golden Accents Package available that brings gold accents inside and out.

Apart from which, the new GLC 53 gets all the usual Mercedes-AMG aesthetics inside and out. There’s even a new Golden Accents Package that – aptly – brings touches like gold-coloured cross-spoke wheels and AMG emblems.

Set to arrive in customer hands later this year, the new GLC 53 is perhaps a sign of good things to come. That’s because this formula is set to be replicated in the C-Class saloon soon enough. What’s unclear still is if the 63-series will be rebooted.

For now though, at least the division has properly righted things with this super-SUV through this new 6-cyl swap. Could this be enough to convince fans about the continued absence of a V8? Perhaps…