Mercedes-AMG GT

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Overview

The car made its global debut in 2014 at the Paris Motor Show in the GT and GT S trim. A mid-life facelift was subsequently introduced three years later in 2017 before making its way to Malaysia in 2019. Codenamed the C190, the two facelifted models introduced to the local market are the AMG GT C and the high-performance AMG GT R variant, both in the hard top coupé form, and powered by a monstrous AMG 4.0 litre Bi-turbo V8 engine.

Like all AMG models, the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT is designed and developed in Affalterbach. The engines are hand-built in-house by a dedicated technician according to AMG’s ‘One Man, One Engine’ philosophy, before handed over for final assembly at the Mercedes-Benz assembly plant in Sindelfingen, Germany. Prices for the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT starts from RM 1,558,888 and RM 1,712,888 (OTR without insurance) respectively. Dubbed the Beast of the Green Hell (Nürburgring), the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT means business and attempts to dethrone the default segment favourite, the Porsche 911.

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Design

As the spiritual successor to the limited-run Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, it comes as no surprise that the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT retains some of the iconic exterior design features from its predecessor. The pronounced wheel arches, low bodywork, elongated bonnet, fastback sloping roofline and the short rear overhang are reminiscence of the SLS AMG.

The more fluidic design accentuates the purposefully sculpted bodywork, showcasing its wide and athletic stance. The new imposing AMG Panamerica grille, featuring 15 chrome-plated vertical fins, pays homage to the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing car. The redesigned LED headlights now feature a three-chamber reflector system as well as a tri-functional, arched light guide (DRL, navigation, indicator). The rear LED taillights have also been revised with a darker clusters background and a more pronounced signature.

Aggressively styled lower bumper incorporates functional aerodynamics features such as the wide front splitter which reduces lift at the front axle and rear diffuser to aid rear downforce. Additional air curtains on the outside of the front fascia channel air towards the wheel arches, optimising the flow properties and minimizing turbulent air in the wheel area.

To ensure ideal airflow through the double wheel arch radiators, the GT R additionally features new and unique wheel arch liners with special cooling-air slits. The standard AMG exterior carbon-fibre package on the GT R also adds a more prominent diffuser design, paired with the AMG GT 3 race car-inspired fixed rear wing to give maximum downforce at the rear axle.

The Mercedes-Benz AMG GT makes do without the iconic Gullwing doors in favour of the more conventional forward-opening doors. The aerofoil-like streamlined proportion combines with the precisely curved roof results in a low drag coefficient of 0.365. Both variants sit on staggered wheel sizes with 19-inch up front and 20-inch at the rear. The GT C is fitted with the AMG cross-spoke forged wheel with red-painted brake calipers while the GT R gets a set of AMG performance five twin-spoke forged wheel with yellow-painted calipers.

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Dimension

The Mercedes-Benz AMG GT is 92 mm shorter, 68 mm wider and 26 mm taller than its predecessor. Tipping the scale at 1,630 kg, the more performance oriented GT R variant is 70 kg lighter than the GT C.

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Interior

The GT C gets AMG Performance seats upholstered in Nappa Leather and Dinamica, AMG matte carbon-fibre trim, an Exclusive trim package, red contrast stitching and seat belts while the GT R comes fitted with a more track focused AMG bucket seats with yellow seat belts and contrast stitching.

The Malaysian-spec GT R also comes with AMG Track Package as standard which includes a roll-over protection system (roll bar, mounting braces), a four-point safety harness for the driver and a fire extinguisher. Unlike the Porsche 911, the Mercedes-Benz is strictly two-seater only. 

The classic GT proportion with its elongated bonnet, shallowly raked windscreen and narrow rear windows means that the outward visibility is marginal and interior space is limited. And while the 350-litre boot space sounds mighty impressive especially for a car in this class, the awkward shape is not the most user friendly, and even less so in the GT R with the rollbar getting in the way. 

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Features

Up on the centre-console, the new 10.25-inch main infotainment display now comes with improved visual presentation along with new coloured TFT touch function buttons and touchpad controller. And for the keen racers, a built-in AMG Track Pace data logger records more than 80 vehicle-specific data set at a rate of 10 times per second, along with lap and sector times so that enthusiasts will be able to analyse their performance on track.

The car’s AMG Dynamic Select program continues to offer a choice of six drive modes (Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus, Race and Individual), now with enhanced AMG Dynamics program to better manage the ESP power distribution and steering characteristics. The four performance modes available are the Basic, Advanced, Pro and Master.

The GT R also features an active aerodynamics system which is concealed and almost invisible in the underbody. At a speed of 80 km/h in RACE mode, a carbon component automatically moves downward by about 40 mm and changes the airflow. This creates a Venturi effect, which draws the car towards the road and reduces the front-axle lift by around 40 kilograms at 250 km/h.

Other technical highlight includes the active rear wheel steering which is being used for the first time on a Mercedes-AMG model. With a maximum toe angle of 1.5 degrees, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction up to 100 km/h, upon which the system reverts and turns the wheel in the same direction as the front wheels. The optimally tune 3-stage ESP (ON, Sport Handling Mode, OFF) works in perfect unison with the limited-slip to deliver outstanding driving dynamics.

Key highlights on safety and driver assistance tech available on both variants include the radar based Active Brake Assist frontal collision mitigation, ATTENTION ASSIST driver-drowsiness detection, PRE-SAFE collision preparation, Blind Spot and Lane Keeping Assists, front and rear view camera, PARKTRONIC, and Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC cruise control.

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Driving Performance

Engine

Thanks to the high pressure dry-sump lubrication system, AMG engineers are able to mount the engine nice and low in the chassis, lowering its centre of gravity which in turn enhances its handling dynamics. The twin intercooled turbochargers are mounted hot inside the V between the cylinder banks to minimize pressure loss and greatly reducing turbo lag. 

The cylinder-wall are also lined with AMG-patented NANOSLIDE technology, developed by AMG for Formula 1, to create a mirror-smooth ultralow-friction cylinder walls that are also twice as hard as steel. The ultra-stiff and ultra-lightweight carbon fibre torque tube/driveshaft weighs in at just under 9 lb (4.1kg), allowing the engine to rev freely while delivering AMG’s renowned punchy engine character.

Transmission

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Ride Comfort

That said, maneuvering continues be tricky and intimidating at first with the GT’s extreme proportion. With the elongated bonnet, the driver is practically sitting over the rear axle with plenty of car still ahead of you. 

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Fuel Consumption

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Conclusion