Mercedes-Benz and its in-house customization wing AMG have taken the ribbon off their latest beasts. The Mercedes-AMG GT and its souped-up sibling GT S are simply two of the latest AMG sports cars that take the best of Grand Prix racing into the mainstream.
The GT is only the second sports car developed jointly by Mercedes-AMG – and its specs don’t disappoint. The 4.0-liter V-8 biturbo engine is at the core, distinguished as the first sports car engine with ‘hot inside V’ – the phrase Benz-AMG uses to to describe internally mounted turbochargers and dry sump lubrication. The engine in the GT produces 462 hp and the GT S is more robust, with 510 hp. The 0-62 mph time is 3.8 seconds and top speed is 193 mph.
With all the power under the hood, the GT’s lightweight aluminum spaceframe construction and 7-speed dual clutch transmission in transaxle configuration at the rear axle, the sports car still manages to notch power-to-weight ratio of 3.3 kg per hp and maintain fuel efficiency of 30.4 mpg.
The GT’s exterior is a marvel that could only come from Mercedes-AMG. The long bonnet and a broad tail give it a muscular, race-ready look – with the practicality of a tailgate that contains a large luggage compartment. The exterior design will be tailored to buyers’ personal choice and include Exterior Silver Chrome, the Night and Exterior Carbon-Fibre packages.
Mercedes-AMG restyled the aviation theme commonly seen in Mercedes-Benz sports cars. The GT was detailed to bring more more attention to the width of the dashboard, and to give the GT’s cockpit a race car feel, which is further felt by the driver with the low-seat positioning meant to carry over the racing DNA into the mainstream.
Among the unique features the GT is equipped with is AMG Dynamic Select, which allows drivers to choose from C (Controlled Efficiency), S (Sport), S+ (Sport Plus) and I (Individual) modes. The GT Swill also have a Race mode. The AMG Ride Control sports suspension with electronically controlled damping is standard on the GT S and an option on the GT. The driver will be able to control damping characteristics by pushing a button in the AMG Drive Unit or by the using AMG Dynamic Select, with three stages – Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus – available.
The GT features all the latest safety features available in the new S-Class, with standard collision prevention assist plus, adaptive brake, attention assist and a tire pressure monitoring system. Options include a bevy of the most sophisticated safety systems on the planet, including Parktronic, reversing camera and lane tracking package with lane keeping assist.
The Mercedes-AMG GT and GT S will be available in the UK starting April 2015 and prices will be announced in October.
Photo Credit: Mercedes-Benz
