Director of AMG vehicle development Tobias Moers stated, "We had the discussions about that [GLK-Class AMG]. Right now we don’t see that market. Maybe there will be a change in market when the Porsche [Macan] comes up, but right now, no. It would be a huge investment for us … to make it a real AMG."
Interesting that Mercedes-Benz doesn't see the market yet Audi and Porsche do. Additionally, Mercedes offers an AMG variant of the gigantic GL63 AMG which is much more expensive than a GLK63 AMG would be. When the RSQ3 and Porsche Macan hit, BenzBoost thinks Mercedes-Benz will change their minds.
Speaking of the RS Q3, Moers puts it down stating he thinks it was the wrong decision and that the car does not have enough power, “What they [Audi] did with the RSQ3, I don’t think is the right strategy. It’s not enough horsepower for an RS model."
Somebody needs to tell Moers the RS Q3 only weighs 3800 pounds and that the 2.5 inline-5 turbo motor (which has won three straight engine of the year awards) is highly tuneable. He is forgetting you don't need huge raw power when the vehicle is lightweight for its class. Instead of talking down on the RS Q3 maybe AMG should compete with it?
The decision right now is likely to protect the ML63 AMG as the much lighter GLK with the same motor would run circles around it. Also, what would the huge cost be to make this model? AMG typically sticks the same motor in everything, adds some bigger brakes, stiffens up the suspension, and calls it a day. Oh and Mr. Moers, the RS Q3 is awesome. The problem is likely that AMG was simply caught unprepared for it.
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