Mercedes makes leap into sports car market
The supercar automotive segment is getting more interesting as every hour rolls-by and the premium automakers appears to be reaping from the opportunity that it presents. 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. 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.
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.
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.
The GT, according to Mercedes-AMG, will go from 0-100km/h in four seconds on the dot, while the S version gets you there in 3.8seconds. 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.
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.
MIKE OCHONMA