Mercedes-AMG is out and about testing its upcoming plug-in hybrid GLC flagship.
The upcoming GLC 63 has been snapped testing, ahead of a likely reveal late in 2022 or early in 2023.
Up front, it doesn’t mess too much with the formula laid down by its predecessor. There’s a Panamericana grille with prominent vertical strakes, swollen bumpers with broad air intakes, and a more prominent splitter than the standard GLC.
The car rides on big wheels with a very similar design to those of the current GLC 63, while the camouflaged sills are wider and more aggressive than the standard units.
Also new on the prototype are the rear bumper and rear spoiler, along with the traditional AMG quad exhaust tips. This time around though, those quad tips aren’t at the end of a turbocharged V8 powertrain.
Like the C63 sedan and wagon, the GLC 63 will feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain in place of the current petrol setup.
Mercedes-AMG has re-engineered the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine from the A45 for longitudinal applications. It features in the C43, combined with a mild-hybrid system, and will form the base of the C63 and GLC 63’s more powerful plug-in setup.
From a base of 330kW of power, the fettled M139 engine can be combined with an electric motor developing up to 150kW and 320Nm of torque, though combined power and torque figures have yet to be released.
The current GLC 63 S produces 375kW and 700Nm.
Non-AMG GLC 
The regular 2023 GLC range has already been revealed ahead of the AMG line-up.
The first Australian arrivals of the new Mercedes-Benz GLC are expected in the first half of 2023. More details about the local range, including pricing and engine line-up, will be revealed closer to its launch.
With the new C-Class not being offered in wagon or All-Terrain crossover forms in Australia, the GLC will be required to plug this gap, and build on the car’s success against the BMW X3 and Audi Q5.
