The 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT is finally here, and its ambition to become a formidable foe to its equally impressive rivals is on clear display.
Mercedes-Benz has decided to take on the likes of the Porsche 911 and Audi R8 directly with its new sports vehicle. Though the German automaker certainly realizes that the selling volume of the AMG GT will not be as high as that of the 911, it still intends to threaten a portion of Porsche’s market share.
The AMG GT is essentially the smaller and more affordable option in Mercedes’ sports coupe lineup – being less financially-draining than the preceding SLS model. The coupe’s non-Mercedes-Benz namesake was inspired by the AMG plant in Affalterbach, Germany, which has invested a considerable amount of effort into the vehicle.
This two-door, two-seater coupe will be available in two trim levels – the GT and the GTS – packing a 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 engine that is good for a healthy 465 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. The GT can sprint from 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 304 kilometres per hour.
Under the hood of the GTS is the supercharged version of the same engine, which generates 503 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. It takes 3.7 seconds to blast from 0-60, and the top-speed gets cut at 310 kilometres per hour.
The new AMG GT not only preforms well, but it looks good as well. With a blend of subtle retro touches, like the single-bar chrome grille and bubble roof, tied neatly by the vehicle’s modern design, the AMG GT is packaged really nicely.
Some have criticized the car’s interior for not being as harmonized as the exterior. The centre console is believed to be a little “overstuffed,” while the design behind mimicking the V8’s cylinder layout, though clever, has been stated to look a little messy.
Mercedes is hoping to move between 3,000 and 5,000 units in the United States for the first year, which is not as impressive as the 10,000 that the Porsche 911 sold last year.
The AMG GT S is expected to hit the North American soil in spring of 2015 and the standard GT will follow a year later.
