Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Mercedes-AMG GT 73 plug-in hybrid will unleash 805 hp, report says

2019 Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe
Miles Branman/Digital Trends

The Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door is already pretty fast, but Mercedes may be planning an even faster version. Autocar reports that the GT 4-Door will get a plug-in hybrid powertrain anchored by a twin-turbocharged V8 that makes an impressive 805 horsepower. The British magazine published purported spy photos of this car, expected to be dubbed Mercedes-AMG GT 73 4Matic, undergoing testing. AMG may have other high-performance plug-in hybrids in the pipeline as well.

The plug-in hybrid powertrain could be a production version of the one used in the original GT concept from the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, according to Autocar. That car married a plug-in hybrid system with the 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 used in numerous current Mercedes-AMG models. It also had all-wheel drive (4Matic, in Mercedes speak) so the production version will likely have that, too. Autocar predicts an electric-only range of 31 miles, although that’s likely based on the European WLTP testing cycle, not the U.S. EPA cycle.

Recommended Videos

The most logical competition for the Mercedes-AMG GT 73 would be the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid — another fast plug-in hybrid four-door. The all-wheel drive Porsche has 680 hp and 626 pound-feet of torque, does zero to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds (with launch control), and has an EPA-rated electric-only range of 14 miles. The most powerful current version of the Mercedes — the AMG GT63 S — is 0.1 second slower from zero to 60 mph, but the plug-in hybrid could improve on that. Mercedes said the original plug-in hybrid GT concept could do zero to 60 mph in under three seconds, after all.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Mercedes trademarked three “73” model names — G73, GLS73, and S73 — in Europe in 2017, and Canada and 2018, notes Autoblog. That means additional models could be slated to get the 805-hp plug-in hybrid powertrain after the AMG GT 4-Door. Mercedes may also use that powertrain in the next-generation SL, according to Autoblog. Mercedes fans know that the automaker previously used the “73” designation for the R129-generation SL73 AMG, which was produced from 1999 to 2001 and boasted a 7.3-liter V12 (this was back when Mercedes model names corresponded to engine displacement). That engine was also used in the Pagani Zonda supercar.

The addition of “73” plug-in hybrid models to the lineup would add yet another layer to the Mercedes-AMG hierarchy. In recent times, AMG has mostly moved downmarket with entry-level “43” variants, the “53” mild-hybrid models, and two tiers of compact performance models. But powerful plug-in hybrids would pull AMG back in the other direction, and bring it back to its roots of prioritizing bonkers power above all else.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Mercedes-AMG shifting gears with a variety of hybrids and EVs on their way
Mercedes-AMG's hybrid and electric drivetrains

Known for its fire-breathing V8s and power-dense turbo fours, Mercedes-AMG has announced it will reinvent its range in the 2020s by placing a major focus on electrification. Hybrid, and even electric, sports cars are around the corner.

Mercedes-Benz's high-performance arm started dabbling in electrification when it released the Project One, a limited-edition hypercar powered by a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain sourced from its hugely successful Formula One cars. As we reported in 2018, some of the technology developed for this project will trickle down to the more accessible members of the company's range, including a few models that haven't been publicly revealed yet.

Read more
PlugStar’s platform matches your lifestyle with EVs and buying incentives
road rave subscription direct sales threaten traditional car dealers dealer showing brochure to young couple in showroom

A recent survey by research firm Accenture determined that a majority of potential buyers of electric vehicles (EVs) are mostly concerned with reliability, affordability, and how well EVs integrate into their daily lives.

It seems Plug In America, a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating the shift to electric vehicles, has listened to those concerns as it revamped PlugStar.com, its information and shopping platform.

Read more
EVgo set to build 7,500 new public fast-charging stalls across the U.S.
evgo 7500 charging stalls gm hummer ev station 2000 1400x933

It looks like the Joe Biden administration’s Department of Energy (DOE) is in a hurry: It just finalized a $1.25 billion loan to EVgo, the U.S. operator of electric vehicle (EV) charge points, for the construction of 7,500 new fast-charging stalls nationwide.

The announcement comes just as the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump has signaled it wants to cancel much of the existing spending on EV initiatives.

Read more