2024 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Is a Coupe on V8 Steroids
4 min
The coming model year brings an updated machine into the Mercedes-Benz AMG garage: a large, powerful coupe launched by a wonderfully inappropriate V8 engine.
The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S is a type of vehicle that didn’t exist for previous destinations. Bigger than some lesser SUV models at 195-inches long and weighing more than 2.5 tons, the AMG GLE 63 S rides higher than most Mercedes-Benz models. It lives under the coupe label despite its four-door frame, preserving the moniker with a hard top roof and sloping rear lines. Still, as the 63 S muscles its way along from its almost 118-inch wheelbase to its broad haunches, its visual impact says “coupe, but on AMG steroids.”
If there’s a challenge to overcome in getting comfortable with the GLE 63 S Coupe, it’s those visuals. With so many modern vehicles on the road taking the form of SUVs or crossovers that are really no more than large hatchbacks, the sight of a vehicle that’s none of the above while also shrugging off the modest lines of a sedan takes some getting used to from the outside. Still, once the driver makes that adjustment, he or she can get on with the enjoyment of driving an AMG-tuned Mercedes barely tamed brute.
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For the uninitiated, AMG is the Mercedes-Benz tuning shop where already great cars become more aggressive. AMG amps the power and handling abilities, adds more than a few more bucks, quid, or euros to the price tag and hands them along to serious driving enthusiasts.
For the GLE 63 S, the shop penned in a handcrafted 4-liter V8 Biturbo beast under the hood—but at least nodded to environmental concerns by layering electric hybrid assist. The result of all that uncompromising German engineering is 603 horsepower and a 0-to-60 time of 3.8 seconds. That’s serious, “snap your head back” speed in a large, solidly built vehicle.
A combination of AMG Speedshift TCT 9-speed automatic transmission with sport paddle shifting and all-wheel drive with fully variable torque distribution keep all of that power on the road. The end result driving experience features a grounded, balanced, and stately ride that elevates the owner above the ugliness of common pavement—with truly aggressive, roaring power waiting if you put your toe down in Sport or Sport+ mode.
Michael Knoeller, head of marketing and sales at Mercedes-AMG, says a lot of planning and thought go into how the company maintains two identities: an automaker providing traditional, tuned power and performance for enthusiasts, while also forging technology for electric vehicles.
“Mercedes-AMG is in the transformation phase in the mid- and long-term,” Knoeller says. “While our handcrafted V8 powertrains will continue to be offered in familiar models for some time, we are also working on AMG’s own BEV platform, AMG.EA. This will enable us to meet a wide range of customer needs in markets where the V8 engine continues to play a role, as well as with our all-electric EQ models.”
And regardless of the drivetrain technology, a Mercedes has to be a Mercedes, Knoeller adds. There are high expectations for buyers of make and its models, whether or not they’re AMG-forged vehicles.
“All Mercedes-AMG models must deliver on our brand promise of superior performance and unique technology,” he says. “In doing so, we can adopt certain technologies from the world of combustion engines, while other technologies we develop completely from scratch.”
As for what purpose the 2024 AMG GLE 63 S Coupe plays in this grand scheme of old meets new and power meets preservation, the answer is a mixed grill. The monster-sized coupe is large enough to serve as a luxury people carrier, but powerful enough for the occasional track day before standing in as a grand tourer with ample power.
“We think the GLE 63 S Coupe excels in a variety of areas,” Knoeller explains. “It perfectly meets the demand for luxury and comfort, while also offering ample space.”
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He points to the distinctive, though challenging appearance as a plus that brings interested eyeballs to the vehicle, while the 603-horespower output looks to thrill the human behind the wheel. The Sport + dynamic driving setting is intended for track days and maximum driving entertainment, he says (even if there are more suitable products in the Mercedes-Benz portfolio for track days, such as the SL Roadster).
In terms of the future, Knoeller reassures passionate drivers that high performance models such as the GLE 63 S Coupe and its ilk will have a place in the Mercedes AMG family for a while yet.
“The segment of sporty SUVs and the demand for our models has grown steadily in recent years,” he says. “We also see further potential here in the long term, so there is no need to worry about the future of the GLE 63 S Coupe. We have already set the course for an electric future and recently presented our new Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV.”
The starting MSRP for the rides making up the GLE class start around US$80,000, with the AMG enhancements on the GLE 63 S Coupe nudging the price up to US$125,000 and beyond. If the lover of German meticulousness can get used to the edgy and nontraditional styling cues, he or she will buy into a unique blend of stately performance with deceptive and effective power.
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With US$40 million already committed, the Global Talent Fund is attracting investor attention with a strategy focused on building globally scalable consumer brands alongside high-profile talent.
2 min
A new investment fund targeting celebrity-founded consumer brands has secured US$40 million in commitments and is rapidly approaching its US$50 million fundraising target, signalling growing investor appetite for alternative opportunities beyond traditional asset classes.
The Global Talent Fund, which has a maximum raise of US$100 million, focuses on building and investing in consumer businesses alongside celebrities, athletes, and influential personalities who play an active role as co-founders rather than simply endorsing products.
The strategy is based on the belief that changes in consumer behaviour, particularly the rise of social media and digital engagement, have fundamentally altered how brands are built and scaled.
GTF founding partner Jeremy Hunt, who is helping lead the fund’s strategy, said consumers increasingly feel connected to personalities they follow online and are more willing to support products developed by those individuals.
“Consumers are searching for content to engage with, and when a celebrity they like or follow takes them on the journey of creating a product or brand, they genuinely feel part of that process,” he said.
The fund is targeting high-growth consumer sectors including wellness, hydration, beauty and recovery, areas Hunt believes continue to benefit from strong global demand and ongoing innovation.
Rather than backing celebrity endorsement deals, the fund is seeking businesses where talent is deeply involved in product development, brand creation and long-term growth.
According to Hunt, authenticity remains one of the biggest differentiators between successful celebrity-backed brands and those that fail.
“The consumer can see clearly if someone is simply being paid to promote a product,” he said. “The winners are typically the brands where the celebrity has genuinely helped build the business from the ground up.”
The model has attracted support from several prominent Australian investors and business families, reflecting broader interest in alternative investments with global growth potential.
Hunt said consumer brands offered a level of tangibility that many investors found appealing.
“Consumer brands are what we touch, feel, smell and taste every day,” he said. “Our investors understand the growth potential in the model, but they also want to be part of the journey.”
The fund’s rapid progress towards its fundraising target comes amid growing recognition that celebrity influence, when combined with strong commercial execution and scalable business models, can create significant enterprise value.
With several high-profile celebrity-founded businesses generating billion-dollar exits in recent years, supporters of the strategy believe the opportunity remains in its early stages.
For more information, contact marc@kanerbridge.com.au
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