When Mercedes-AMG pulled the wraps off its C63 S super-sedan a few weeks back our natural response was to see how it measured up against the BMW M3 sedan, it’s most direct rival (the Merc monstered it in most metrics).

But perhaps the greatest threat to the C63 comes not from BMW, but from its own blood relatives. Crossovers are riding high in the sales charts, and sedans – even stupidly fast sedans – are falling out of favor. Plus the wagon version of the C63 is unlikely to be sold in the U.S,. all of which leads us to think that the biggest barrier to the 2023 C63’s success is the 2024 GLC63 S Coupe you see right here.

Compared with the current GLC coupe, the new one looks leaner and sportier, more like a four-door coupe than a squashed SUV. And while disguise obscures the detailing on this prototype we can be sure it’ll feature AMG’s trademark Panamericana grille.

We can also be fairly sure about the mechanical setup lurking behind that grille, because we’re expecting it to be carried over unchanged from the recently announced C63 S sedan. That means the GLC63 S drops the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 found in the current car and borrows the C63’s turbocharged, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder, plug-in hybrid powertrain. The C63’s engine on its own produces 470 hp (476 PS) and contributes to a total system output of 671 hp (680 PS) and 752 lb-ft (1,020 Nm).

Related: Mercedes-AMG C63 S Gains Special F1 Edition With Motorsport-Inspired Livery

It’s possible that AMG might choose to detune the package slightly, or fit a slightly bigger battery because the C63 is only rated at 8 miles (13 km) of electric driving range and the GLC’s extra weight is only going to make that worse. But even if it does we can expect the GLC63 S coupe (and its more upright, but mechanically identical GLC63 S SUV brother not seen here) to get to 62 mph (100 km/h) in less than 4 seconds. One feature the GLC probably won’t get is the C63’s ability to let you adjust its 4Matic all-wheel drive system to drive the rear wheels only.

So given the choice, which would you pick: the lighter, more traditional, and slightly less expensive C63 S sedan, or the more practical and probably not much slower GLC 63 S? Leave a comment and let us know.

671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3
671-HP AMG GLC63 Is More Of A Threat to C63 Than BMW’s M3

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