Driven: Mercedes-AMG gains more GLC63 S supply
BY JUSTIN HILLIARD | 1st Jun 2018
MERCEDES-BENZ Australia/Pacific has confirmed that supply of its GLC mid-size SUV has freed up in time for this week’s Australian launch of the hard-hitting AMG GLC63 S wagon and coupe flagships, which were expected to face stock delays.
Speaking to GoAuto, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific public relations and product communications manager Jerry Stamoulis revealed that local supply of all GLC variants was at an all-time high.
“Our stock levels of GLC have improved,” he said. “It’s actually our best stock levels out of Germany since launch of GLC, so the delays we were expecting (with GLC63 S) have probably freed up.
“Realistically, if you were to order a GLC63, it probably wouldn’t be too dissimilar to a C63 at the moment (in terms of wait time).”
Regular delivery wait times could be up to around five to six weeks, while buyers placing factory orders are subject to the usual four-to six-month turnaround time.
While Mr Stamoulis did not disclose sales targets for the GLC63 S, other than the split between wagon (65 per cent) and coupe (35 per cent), he confirmed that dealer stock was obtainable and ready to be purchased.
“Unless there’s non-negotiable options on the table and you had to order one specifically, there should be some around in (dealerships) that could be available,” he said.
Mr Stamoulis indicated that Australian supply has struggled to meet demand since the mainstream GLC range went on sale in December 2015.
“Since launch, we’ve never had the supply, but it’s definitely, over the next six months, looking the best it’s ever looked for GLC,” he said.
When questioned if the additional local stock was created due to slowing sales in other markets, Mr Stamoulis stated that more manufacturing sites were producing the GLC than before.
“We’ve always had the demand in Australia,” he said. “Globally, the demand’s been quite high, but more plants have been building GLC.
“Ours will continue to come out of Germany … (but) we just don’t have the delay for our market now.”
As previously reported, GLC63 S pricing kicks off from $164,900 before on-road costs for the five-door wagon, while the slope-backed coupe commands a $7000 premium, at $171,900.
As GoAuto reported, Benz was expecting an adjustment to pricing and equipment levels prior to launch, however this is not the case, with both variants retaining the same spec and pricetags as originally announced in July last year.
Both body styles are powered by Mercedes-AMG’s 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine, which punches out 375kW of power from 5500 to 6250rpm and 700Nm of torque from 1750rpm to 4500rpm.
For the time being, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific has elected to not offer the entry-level, non-S GLC63 and its 350kW/650Nm tune of the blown V8.
“Similar to C63, for that type of customer and for that end of the market, the S is probably the right car,” Mr Stamoulis explained.
The GLC63 S’ outputs are sent to all four wheels via the German brand’s nine-speed AMG Speedshift MCT automatic transmission and AMG Performance 4Matic+ drivetrain with variable torque distribution, both of which debuted on the E63 S sedan early last year.
As a result, the wagon and coupe can both sprint from standstill to 100km/h in claimed 3.8 seconds while on the way to their electronically limited top speed of 270km/h.
A thunderous soundtrack accompanies the pair’s surging acceleration thanks to a bi-modal AMG Performance exhaust system that is operated via an in-cabin button.
Other key equipment includes a multi-chamber air suspension, adjustable adaptive dampers and an electronic rear-axle limited-slip differential.
The standard braking package consists of 390mm discs up front and 360mm rotors at the rear, while carbon-ceramic brakes (402mm front discs with six-piston callipers and 360mm rear rotors with single-pot stoppers) are optionally available for $7500.
Five Dynamic Select driving modes – Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Race and Individual – allow the driver to adjust engine, transmission, suspension, steering, stability control and all-wheel-drive settings while on the move.
The GLC63 S is the first non-GT Mercedes-AMG model to launch with the marque’s now-signature Panamericana grille, which is punctuated by its vertical high-gloss chrome slats.
Other exterior changes include a wider front apron with a large splitter, side sill panels and a roof-mounted lip spoiler, while wider wheelarch claddings have been added to the front and rear ends.
An Exterior Carbon Package adds even more muscle for $4500, including carbon-fibre side mirror caps and a carbon-fibre roof-mounted lip (coupe) or extended (wagon) spoiler.
Inside, an AMG Performance steering wheel trimmed in black Nappa leather and Dinamica microfibre, black Nappa leather AMG Performance sports seats, an instrument cluster race timer, three-zone climate control and a digital TV tuner are unique to the GLC63 S.
For an additional $10,900, buyers can step up to Edition 1 variants of the wagon and coupe, which up the ante with designo Selenite Magno paintwork, an aerodynamics package (large front splitter, enlarged rear diffuser and rear spoiler lip) and carbon-ceramic brakes.
For the extra spend, buyers are also compensated with black 21-inch alloy wheels with yellow rims, yellow sports stripes, black Nappa leather performance seats with yellow diamond stitching, matte carbon-fibre interior trim, a Dinamica performance steering wheel with a yellow 12 o’clock marker, yellow dashboard and door trim top-stitching, and yellow instrument cluster highlights.
Edition 1 variants are not limited to a specific number of examples, meaning early adopters are free to order them for around the first 12 months of GLC63 S production.
Sales of the GLC wagon have increased significantly to the end of April this year, up 58.3 per cent to 1649 units, while its coupe counterpart has taken a step back, down 18.9 per cent to 331 examples, during the same period.
This places the wagon second in the $60,000-plus mid-size-SUV segment this year, trailing the BMW X3 (1878) but ahead of the Audi Q5 (1494), Lexus NX (1272), Land Rover Discovery Sport (1052) and Porsche Macan (884), while the coupe currently holds 11th position.
The GLC63 S wagon and coupe occupy a high-performance sub-class of their own, but new rivals, such as the BMW X3 M and Audi RS Q5, are rumoured to be on the horizon.
2018 Mercedes-AMG GLC63 S pricing*
| Wagon (a) | $164,900 |
| Coupe (a) | $171,900 |
| Wagon Edition 1 (a) | $175,800 |
| Coupe Edition 1 (a) | $182,800 |
*Excludes on-road costs
