Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

104 | AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE

T

he GT is the second car
produced by Mercedes’
specialist performance
division after the 2010–2014
SLS supercar.
The range opens with the
$261,130 GT, with a 4.0-litre twin
turbo V8/seven-speed dual-clutch
drivetrain, producing 350kW of
power and 630Nm of torque.
The GT S, priced at $301,130
and tested here, ups these
numbers to 384kW and 650Nm.
The GT C, at $316,130, produces
410kW and 680Nm.
The GT R, at $351,130, is tuned
for 430kW and 700Nm.
Roadsters include GT at
$286,130 and GT C, at $341,130.
About 90 per cent of the
car’s space frame structure is
aluminium while magnesium
has been used for forward
components including the bonnet.
As in the SLS, the engine is
mounted as near to the centre
of the car as possible while
the gearbox — a seven-speed
dual-clutch unit — is at the rear
axle, with an electronic locking

differential. The result is a

1570kg kerb weight for the S.

As well as being suitably

svelte, the GT also has

impeccable chassis credentials

with double-wishbone

suspension and a limited-slip

differential, while electronically

controlled dampers offer

comfort, sport, sport-plus and

race modes.

The S benefi ts from tighter

springs and dampers than the

standard GT and active engine

and transmission mounts,

similar to those used in some

Porsche 911 models.

The SLS was powered

by a naturally aspirated V8

displacing 6.2 litres, but AMG

has since downsized to meet

emissions targets and adopted

turbochargers to compensate for

smaller displacement.

The GT debuts the second

generation of these twin-turbo

units with its 4.0-litre V8. This is

now being rolled out across the

AMG line-up.

It delivers its power — the

S develops 384kW at 6250rpm

— in various states of urgency,

depending on the drivetrain

map you have selected. There’s

excellent traction off the line

and the throttle response

seems almost immediate.

The GT S is quick, blazing to

100km/h in 3.8 seconds — a

couple of tenths faster than a 911

for the same money. Its top speed

of 310km/h has a slight edge too.

The engine makes the right

noises, although it’s nowhere

near as loud or as raucous as the

old 6.2-litre atmo banger.

A switchable performance

exhaust means the driver can

turn up the volume.

The cabin feels every bit the

money and wraps the driver

snugly like a cockpit. You sit

low, enveloped by the car and

in tune with what the chassis is

doing. Unlike the 911, however,

there’s no rear seat.

Selecting D means an awkward

reach back for the nuggety

gearshift selector but even fl at out

on a track you can leave it in auto.

Steering is super-light but

becomes meatier the more

aggressive the driving mode. The

car turns into corners intuitively

and feels inherently balanced

and composed over bumps.

Like the Porsche 911, the GT

is now spawning an entire family

of variants, including some with

even more fi repower.

The new GT four door coupe

range, for example, opens with

the 320kW/520Nm 3.0-litre

electrically-boosted twin turbo

straight six GT53 4Matic+,

priced at $249,900.

The 63S 4Matic+ four door, with

the 4.0-litre twin turbo amped

up to 470kW and 900Nm, clips

the 0-100km/h ticket at just 3.2

seconds and costs $349,900.

As we went to press, the GT

was about to get a minor update,

mainly cosmetics, infotainment

and drivetrain electronics.

Mechanicals are unchanged.

By Phil King

MERCEDES AMG GT FROM $261,130

THINGS WE LIKE

 Beautiful shape

 Light weight and sharp dynamics

 Spectacular performance

 It’s different to a 911

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

I miss that 6.2-litre AMG V8

Tight interior space and no

rear seat

Some controls hard to reach

Is it better than a 911? Debatable

SPEX (GT S)

Made in Germany

4.0-litre twin turbo V8 petrol/

seven-speed dual clutch

transmission/rear-wheel drive

384kW of power at 6250rpm/650Nm

of torque from 1750–4750rpm

0–100km/h in 3.8 seconds (claimed)

7.9L/100km highway; 12.3L/100km

city; 98 octane premium; CO 2

emissions are 221g/km

Warranty: Three years/unlimited

kilometres

Standard: Eight airbags, stability

control, 19-inch (front) and 20-

inch (rear) alloy wheels, leather

upholstery, navigation, adaptive

headlights, Parktronic, automatic

emergency braking, reversing

camera, adaptive dampers,

Bluetooth with audio streaming,

tyre pressure monitor

Redbook future values: 3yr: 47%;

5yr: 34%

Safety

Not yet tested

Green Vehicle Guide

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money

Overall

STARS

compare with ...

Jaguar F-Type R, McLaren 540C,

Nissan GTR, Porsche 911 Carrera S