By: IOL Motoring Staff
Pretoria - Mercedes-AMG is taking a second, and far more serious, stab at the sports car market with its all-new GT, released in South Africa this week.
It's smaller, lighter and more attainable than the division's first in-house creation, that automotive sledgehammer otherwise known as the SLS, and while it might be missing those showy gullwing doors, the new GT was created from the ground up to be an ultimately more rewarding car to drive.
Attainable, of course, is relative in this neck of the woods, with the GT priced at R1 642 000 and the GT S commanding R1 981 000.
In keeping with its lighter, leaner design philosophy the new sports car also has a smaller but more sophisticated engine, which comes in the form of AMG's brand new 4-litre twin-turbo V8, which is the first sports car engine to have internally-mounted turbochargers and dry sump lubrication.
HOW HOT DO YOU WANT IT?
Mercedes-AMG offers it in two levels of hotness. Opt for the standard GT and your engine produces 340kW at 6000rpm and 600Nm from 1600rpm. Splurge on the GT S and your engine is liberated to the tune of 375kW at 6250rpm and 650Nm from 1750. Not exactly earth-shattering outputs, but remember that this aluminum-space-frame sports car weighs just 1540 to 1570kg. The GT, according to Mercedes-AMG, will get you from 0-100km/h in four seconds on the dot, while the S version gets you there in 3.8s. Top speeds are electronically limited to 304km/h and 310km/h respectively.
Power goes to the back wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission mounted on the rear axle and agility is ensured by double wishbone sports suspension at both ends, and a locking rear differential - manual in the GT and electronic in the GT S model's case. The latter also comes with electronic dampers (optional in the standard GT) that allow the driver to adapt things on the comfort-sport continuum. The S also comes with variable exhaust flaps for those times when only The V8 Album at full volume will do.
ON THE TRACK
Late last year Jesse Adams got to swing the GT S around the Laguna Seca racetrack in California and was impressed with the way that it could easily transform from a comfortable tourer to a thrilling track tool:
"This 4-litre revs with a hoarse howl up to a 7000rpm redline, but I found it best to up-change early and make most use of its hefty midrange powerband - especially so out of corners where it's quicker to build power slowly from low revs in order to keep the rear end in check. Put foot too soon and the tail will easily sweep into a smokey, but easily controllable slide."
While the GT is strictly a two-seater, it is rather comfortable and versatile within that context, complete with a practical tailgate that opens to a 350-litre boot, and a classy, well equipped cabin sporting the usual glut of driver assistant technologies available in modern Mercs.
Standard equipment includes Pre-Safe, Collision Prevention Assist Plus, Adaptive Brake, Attention Assist and Parktronic. You do, however, have to pay extra for stuff like Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Assist and a reverse camera.
PRICES
(Excluding CO2 tax)
Mercedes-AMG GT - R1 642 000
Mercedes-AMG GT S - R1 981 000