It's little wonder that tennis superstar Roger Federer and Mercedes-Benz have had a relationship that spans 14 years. Like the sleek S-Class that has dismantled the competition for years with a nonchalant, polished effortlessness, Federer has done much the same on tennis courts around the world, underlined by his 20 grand slam titles.
Following the news that Federer will retire from the sport after the Laver Cup this coming weekend, Mercedes-Benz has announced an extension of its partnership with the sports star in a new initiative called "Neon Legacy." This initiative will begin with a one-off neon-yellow Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance that will be auctioned off at the end of the year, with proceeds going to a charitable tennis project in 2023.
The GT 63 S E Performance is already a striking car but it looks even more flamboyant in this neon-yellow color, a shade that isn't otherwise available for this car. The color itself was inspired by the yellow felt of tennis balls, and signals the start of "Neon Legacy" in collaboration with Federer. The automaker didn't expand on the sub-projects to come after the appearance of the neon-yellow GT 63 which will be visible at the Laver Cup in London, but these details will be communicated in the weeks ahead.
This year marks the fifth edition of the Laver Cup and Mercedes-Benz will once again provide a fleet of vehicles for the players, officials, and selected guests. That includes the all-electric EQS Sedan, a car packed with some of the most mind-boggling features available in the industry.
This team competition sees the best tennis players in the world compete against each other in two groups: Team Europe and Team World. What makes the format so exciting is that Federer will make a rare appearance on the same side of the net as his archrivals, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Other than the odd exhibition here and there that Federer may consider in the future, this is the last time many fans will see him on the tennis court.
"Roger has shaped and inspired entire generations with his game and sportsmanship," said Britta Seeger from Mercedes-Benz. "We will certainly remember a sentence during his visit at our headquarters in Stuttgart last year: 'The short term is my motivator, but the long term is my inspiration.' All of us wish Roger all the best for the future and look forward to collaborating even closer within our Neon Legacy initiative."
The GT 63 S E Performance being auctioned is another model that ushers in the electrified era of AMG, along with the smaller AMG C63 S E Performance that was revealed this week.
Crucially, unlike the hottest C-Class, the GT 63 S E Performance keeps its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 but the addition of an electric motor unleashes a combined 831 horsepower and torque of between 744 and 1,084 lb-ft. It will hit 62 mph in 2.9 seconds and 124 mph (still some way off the 143-mph speed of Federer's fastest serve) in under ten seconds. Like Federer, it's only a matter of time before Merc's legendary V8 retires completely, so enjoy both while they're still here.