Words: Charlie Thomas
Anticipation is building for the release of Mercedes’ new baby supercar, the AMG GT. Set to rival the iconic Porsche 911, it will feature a brand new design, deemed to be the most attractive Mercedes have ever produced, as well as an all-new AMG V8 powerplant.
The teaser shots revel a design clearly influenced by the SLS, but the smaller dimensions coupled with its flowing lines will create a truly stunning automobile. Its curvaceous aesthetic pays respects to Mercedes’s sports cars of the past and it retains the elongated bonnet that was made famous once again with the SLS.
Engine-wise, AMG have created an all-new, state-of-the-art bi-turbo V8 that, despite being downsized to 4.0 litre, pumps out a staggering 503bhp and 650Nm of torque. This, combined with the car’s lightweight ambitions, should make it an agile mover with impressive performance figures.
The German marque is renowned for their opulent interiors but one criticism of previous AMG models has been that the interiors didn’t feel particularly luxurious, especially when compared to the likes of Ferrari and Aston Martin. That is not the case here. Taking inspiration from the new S-Class, the AMG GT cabin boasts a tablet-style central display, which houses the infotainment system and essential driver data. The sumptuous two-tone leather, carbon fibre clad centre console and flat-bottomed, race-inspired steering wheel really makes it feel as sporty as it looks, too.
Mercedes have a history of producing small but punchy performance cars but they have veered away from this in recent years, choosing brawn and power over elegance and sophistication. If it is to successfully bring the fight to Porsche though, the AMG GT will have to be agile and refined, as well as shockingly fast. Judging by the expertise of both Mercedes and AMG, they are bound to succeed, and then some.
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