After the successful SLS, Mercedes AMG added the Mercedes-AMG GT supercar to their lineup. Breathing through the variable exhaust vanes is a hand built twin-turbocharged V8 pumping out 510hp and 650Nm of torque. To make sure it is up to the challenge from the mighty 911, the Affalterbach firm equipped the car with active rear spoiler and optional ceramic brake system.
Mercedes-AMG has finally revealed the highly-anticipated supercar, the GT. After numerous teaser images and videos, we are able to see the Mercedes-AMG GT in its full glory. The new GT is the second model to be developed by Mercedes-AMG, after the demise of the highly successful SLS.
Being a performance model, the new GT is optimised for a dynamic and sporty driving experience. With a kerb weight of 1,540 kg (thanks to the intelligent aluminium lightweight construction), a 47:53 weight balance front to rear, and the combination of locking differential, and sports suspension with aluminium double-wishbone suspension, it is said to deliver “racetrack performance” but with everyday practicality.
The new GT is still a two-seater coupe but with a new heart (4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 codenamed M178) nestled under its long front bonnet. The exterior lines on the new GT is softer and more flowing compared to the sharp-edged SLS but the hallmark rear-wheel-drive proportions are still present with the long nose and a stubby tail.
It carries the three-pointed star proudly in the middle of its huge 3D diamond grille flanked by a pair of LED High Performance headlamps. The bonnet is bulging with twin powerdomes, combined with a pair of vents on top as well as on the front fenders to indicate a serious powerplant underneath.
There are no gullwing doors this time but as a result it should have a lower centre of gravity as the mechanical bits are absent from the roof. Standard wheels measure 9 x 19-inch at the front and 11 x 19-inch at the rear. The tailpipes exit at the back, and the wide strip of LED taillights on each side incorporate a sequentially illuminating turn indicators. Pop the rear hatch open and there’s 350 litres of luggage space where Mercedes claims it can swallow up to two golfbags.
A wide center console runs in the middle of the cockpit that houses the E-SELECT transmission lever and the touch-sensitive COMAND Controller, among the AMG DRIVE UNIT controls on each side. A free-standing screen sit atop of the quad aircond vents, while another TFT display resides between the two dials in the instrument cluster infront of the flat bottom steering wheel with aluminium shift paddles.
The new GT comes in two guises, the 462 hp and 600 Nm GT and the 510 hp and 650 Nm GT S. Both are powered by the same 3,982 cc twin-turbo V8 coupled with the AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission that can deliver a fuel consumption as low as 9.3 l/100 km in the GT or 9.4 l/100 km in the GT S. The GT has a top speed of 304 km/h and rockets from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.0 seconds, while the GT S cuts the sprint time by 0.2 seconds with a top speed of 310 km/h.
The benefits of opting the GT S over the GT is that the GT S is packed with more toys. While the GT is fitted with a mechanical rear-axle locking differential, the GT S is fitted with a more sensitive electronic differential that works faster than a mechanical differential. The optional AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension in the GT is also fitted as standard in the GT S, allowing the driver to electronically control the damper settings to be in Comfort, Sport, or Sport plus.
Specifically available as an option for the GT S is the AMG DYNAMIC PLUS package which includes dynamic engine and transmission mounts that constantly adjusts the mounts’ stiffness according to the driving conditions, a stiffer suspension tuning, a more negative front wheel camber, and a “RACE” mode. Other than that, there’s a ceramic high-performance composite brake system with ceramic discs measuring 402 mm at the front and 360 mm at the rear.
Standard safety equipment in the new GT includes front, side, window, and knee airbags, COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS, ADAPTIVE BRAKE, and ATTENTION ASSIST. PRE-SAFE® system, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, PARKTRONIC, Lane Tracking package, and Traffic Sign Assist are some of the optional equipment that can be fitted to the new GT.
“With its technological substance, the Mercedes-AMG GT fulfils our high aspirations with regard to driving dynamics, agility and sportiness. The new GT is the second sports car developed fully independently by Mercedes-AMG. The car is manufactured according to the motto ‘Handcrafted By Racers’ – which perfectly encapsulates our heritage and our spirit.”, says Tobias Moers, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.
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