New Mercedes 911 fighter replaces the SLS AMG
Mercedes-Benz unveiled the AMG GT S coupe in Stuttgart, Germany, on Tuesday, after a drawn-out lead-up full of rumors, speculation and camouflaged prototypes. From what the company is
telling us now, we believe the new supercar will be every bit as good as the rumors predicted.
This is the second car developed completely in-house at AMG in Affalterbach, following the breathtaking gullwing-door-equipped SLS AMG.
The new AMG GT S is a midsized grand-touring car housing a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 under its extended hood, which makes 503 hp in GT S guise. The AMG GT, which comes to market later, will make do with 456 hp at 6,000 rpm from the same mill. The sprint to 60 mph takes 3.7 seconds in the GT S, 3.9 seconds in the GT. Top speed is rated at 193 mph and 189 mph, respectively.
The M178, as the engine is known internally, uses a “hot inside V” setup, meaning the two turbochargers are mounted inside the V portion of the engine, as opposed to on the outside of the cylinder banks. AMG claims this helps reduce the space the engine takes up, as well as ensuring optimum response time and low exhaust gas emissions. A dry sump lubrication setup helps deliver oil under high lateral g-forces. Each engine is assembled in a process that takes about 3.5 hours.
Like its competitors from Porsche and Jaguar, the AMG GT S comes with a variable exhaust system, which allows the driver to select how loud the V8 can get. Mercedes says the exhaust note has its “own tonal characteristics” that distinguishes it as part of the AMG family.
Power is sent through the same seven-speed dual-clutch transmission as the bigger SLS, but with a larger gear ratio spread, which Mercedes claims keeps the engine in its peak torque range longer. Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters make the gear changes, varying shift speeds depending upon whether the driver is in C, S or S-plus driving mode. The top GT S model also features a “race” mode that optimizes shifts for the racetrack.
The GT comes with a mechanical limited slip differential, while the GT S gets an electronically controlled locker. Mercedes says the latter provides faster control than the manual setup, also increasing corner speed.
Weight balance is pegged at 47 percent front, 53 percent rear, and a double-wishbone suspension front and rear keeps everything stuck to the road. Neutral behavior and predictable responses at the limit were goals of the company when designing the adjustable suspension. Like the throttle, AMG Ride Control changes the stiffness of the suspension from comfort to sport and sport-plus. The GT S also has three stability-control settings: on, off and sport.
Dynamic engine and transmission mounts self-adjust based on data from the chassis controller and internal computers. Mercedes claims this benefits drivers at slow speeds with smoother operation and drivers at high speeds with better handling and acceleration. The result, according to Mercedes, is a Nurburgring time for the new car of about 7 minutes, 30 seconds.
The GT features ventilated, perforated 14.2-inch brake discs in front and back, while the GT S gets 15.4-inchers in front. A high-performance ceramic setup is available for both models, which also increases front disc size to 15.8 inches. The GT gets 10-spoke, 19-inch alloy wheels. The GT S gets 19s in front and 20s in back. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires are optional.
The body of the AMG GT uses a mix of materials to decrease weight and enhance performance. The chassis, including the greenhouse structure, is made from aluminum alloy, the trunklid is steel and some of its support structure is made from magnesium. This leads to a body shell weight of just 509 pounds. There's also an optional carbon-fiber roof, but it offers minimal additional weight savings. So it's mostly for show.
Aerodynamics were also a key concern of AMG engineers. The GT front apron with splitter not only increases downforce, it also helps route air directly to the cooling modules. A sculpted belly pan sends air to the oil cooler, while the adjustable wing keeps pressure on the rear wheels.
Inside, the AMG GT features an “aviation theme” similar to the SLS. The width of the dashboard is meant to create the impression of a wing, while four spotlight-style vents continue the airplane feel. The center console features all the buttons and adjustments for the drive mode, suspension and electronic-stability control. The eight buttons are also meant to look like the eight cylinders of a firing engine. An 8.4-inch screen sits above, displaying navigation, audio and other information.
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT S hits dealerships in the spring of 2015. The AMG GT will come the following year. Pricing has yet to be announced.
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