Mercedes Benz AMG GT S REVIEW: Heart Of Darkness
The skinny: A long, long bonnet, 4.0 litre bi-turbo V8 and crushing performance, the new AMG GT S is the baddest boy in town. Few cars drive as well, as brutally fast, and with such chassis balance and nailed-down grip.
It looks like it should be carrying a spiked club, but offers cosseting luxury inside, and an exclusive feature list. AMG, no risk, has Porsche in its sights with the new GT S… let the track hostilities begin.
Vehicle style: Premium sports coupe
Price: $294,610 (before on-road costs)
Engine/transmission: 3,982cc direct injection, bi-turbo V8 / AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed transmission
Power/torque: 375kW/650Nm@1750-5000rpm
Fuel consumption: (claimed) 9.1 l/100km | (tested) 11.9 l/100km
OVERVIEW
To look at the AMG GT S is like seeing sin – dark, brooding, filled with menace – a good kid gone off the rails, and now “mad, bad, and dangerous to know”.
It helps that it has the presence of a white pointer. People sense that it’s near; the deep, gruff, ground-shaking rumble from the pipes at the rear signals its approach, and when they see it, they're mesmerised.
Immensely powerful, every stamp on the accelerator accompanied by a thunderous volley from the dual-pipe rear, Mercedes’ new AMG GT S rules the road like an apex predator.
It bites and snarls and twists through a set a turns with ridiculous grip and eye-watering speed.