Last year’s Super Bowl in New Orleans saw the Eagles and Chiefs clash, but before the game, Mercedes offered a unique proposition: a road trip in an 831-hp AMG GT63 S E-Performance. The real question wasn’t if I’d take it, but how fast I’d get there. Some people drive luxury cars for comfort; others, like myself, see them as mobile acceleration experiments.
The GT63 S in searing yellow wasn’t subtle. Its quarter-mile time of 10.5 seconds at 131 mph was a conversation starter, especially for highway patrol. The strategy became clear: avoid attention by sticking to back roads as much as possible. My wife, Heather, served as co-pilot. Unlike some passengers who monitor speed, she’s more interested in the destination, making aggressive driving perfectly acceptable in her book. She’s even been unfazed by 175-mph runs in Europe, preferring to nap through the journey rather than slow it down.
The GT63 S’s hatchback design surprisingly made it practical for a drag-strip-capable machine. There was enough room for luggage, despite the hybrid system taking up space. The 500-mile drive from Atlanta to New Orleans was less about efficiency and more about maximizing the car’s potential.
The first detour led to a Buc-ee’s stop, where the AMG’s 20-mpg rating and my lead foot ensured frequent fuel stops. It’s ironic that a “hybrid” badge was plastered on the gas cap, as if it would somehow reduce visits to the pump.
Alabama revealed a bizarre local practice: the “Alabama Road Train.” One roadworthy vehicle towing multiple broken-down cars, including what appeared to be a totaled Honda Civic. The tow vehicle, likely an Explorer, was straining under the load, its tow rating being stretched to its absolute limit. This led to a detour into the “Alabamabahn,” a stretch of highway with no cross-traffic, ideal for exploiting the GT63’s 831 horsepower.
Mississippi brought a more conventional encounter: kids in an old SLK snapping photos of the vibrant AMG. The reaction was simple: they recognized the car, and that was enough.
The most surreal moment came in Louisiana, where a random exit led to a swamp-side dumping ground for tires and furniture. The scene felt like a post-apocalyptic movie set, with the AMG’s bright yellow paint standing out against the grim landscape. It was absurd, but road trips thrive on unexpected discoveries.
New Orleans during Super Bowl weekend was chaotic, yet exhilarating. Walking behind Fox’s pregame broadcast on Bourbon Street felt like being at the center of a cultural frenzy.
The takeaway is simple: the destination matters, but the journey – especially when taken in an 831-hp machine – is what makes it worthwhile. Whether it’s reckless speed, bizarre roadside attractions, or just the sheer absurdity of it all, a Super Bowl road trip is an experience worth chasing.
