About a month ago, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the new GLC-Class as its newest competitor in one of the most crowded vehicle segments in the world. The compact crossover comes in seven powertrain options, all powered by a four-cylinder engine in mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions.
If you want more power and excitement behind the wheel, the Stuttgart-based automaker currently works on the new GLC 63 and we have new spy photos showing a prototype testing on public roads.
This test vehicle has a little bit less camouflage than the previous one we spied and the visual changes over the standard GLC are visible to a certain extent. For example, the Panamericana grille is there flanked by full-LED headlights. In the front bumper, there are new and larger air intakes in the lower section plus a different lower grille. At the back, the bumper is also modified to fit a new diffuser with four exhaust pipes integrated. There’s also a new small spoiler on the roof.
Gallery: 2023 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 new spy photos
The GLC 63 also seems to sit lower to the ground compared to the standard GLC and this shouldn't be a surprise. The track is wider and the wheels are beefier. As you can see in some of the photos, the rear wheels are steering and this is a feature also available on the 2023 GLC where 4.5 degrees of rear-wheel steering is optional.
New GLC 63 under development:
We can’t confirm what’s going on under the bonnet but we know there’s an electrified 2.0-litre turbocharged mill there instead of a V8. This switch will be a little difficult for the purists to swallow but it will come with a significant power boost. If the preliminary reports are accurate, this powertrain will develop up to 671 bhp (500 kilowatts), over 148 bhp (110 kW) more than what the twin-turbocharged V8 of the previous generation C63 had. About 394 bhp (294 kW) of those ponies will come from the inline-four engine alone with an electric motor producing the rest of the power.
Source: CarPix