A six-cylinder powertrain has made a return to Mercedes-AMG’s GLC lineup, with the German marque unveiling the GLC 53.
Unveiled in 2022, Mercedes-AMG’s second-generation GLC lineup comprised the GLC 43 and GLC 63 S E Performance. However, now, the German marque has introduced a brand-new derivative to its performance-focused GLC range … and it comes in the shape of the GLC 53.
Now, while the GLC 43 employs a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, replete with 48 V mild-hybrid technology, and the GLC 63 S E Performance is equipped with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain comprising a 2.0-litre turbo-charged ’four internal combustion engine (ICE) and a single electric motor, the GLC 53 is equipped with an updated version of the Affalterbach brand’s 3.0-litre inline-six. Indeed, six-cylinder firepower has returned to a performance-focused GLC.
Slotting neatly between the (310 kW/500 N.m) GLC 43 and 500 kW/1 020 N.m GLC 63 S E Performance, the GLC 53’s 3.0-litre turbocharged six-pot is endowed with 330 kW and 600 N.m of twisting force, or 640 N.m for up to 10 seconds in ‘overboost’. Thanks to the 48 V mild-hybrid component of the revised inline-six, an additional 17 kW and 205 N.m are available for short durations. Power and torque – available from 2 200 r/min and 5 800 r/min, respectively – are channelled to all four corners via the automaker’s nine-speed AMG Speedshift TCT transmission.
Mercedes-AMG claims the GLC 53 4Matic+ dispatches the 0-100 km/h dash in 4.2 seconds, making it six-tenths of a second quicker to the three-figure marker than the GLC 43, before topping out at an electronically limited 250 km/h. However, specifying the AMG Driver’s Package increases the top speed to 270 km/h.
“With the new GLC 53, our goal was to make its Affalterbach DNA even more tangible – with more emotion, more character, and even more fun to drive. To achieve this, we have significantly upgraded our six-cylinder engine. Together with the sophisticated chassis and the fully variable all-wheel drive, it makes the GLC 53 a highly dynamic vehicle with exceptional versatility,” said Michael Schiebe, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Production, Quality & Supply Chain Management, and Chairman of the Management Board of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.