The two-seat Mercedes-AMG GT is the German auto giant's new flagship sports car, offering the sounds and thrills of the outgoing SLS AMG, but for a lot less money.
Still, at £97,000 before options, it's hardly an affordable runabout.
Styling
While the GT takes its general shape from the SLS, it also appears to have been influenced by the neatness of the Porsche 911 and the proportions of the Jaguar F-Type. That said, it’s certainly its own machine, harking back to some of Mercedes' classic sports cars. The long nose promises some serious power.
Performance
The range-topping GT S model can hit 62mph from standstill in just 3.8 seconds and reaches a dizzying 193mph given enough track space. But the 'cheaper' GT version can still manage 0-62mph in four seconds.
Both models are powered by all-new 4.0 litre V8s, with the entry-level GT delivering 456bhp and the GT S pushing out 503bhp.
Reviewers have reported edgy steering that demands a decent dose of courage in order to master. But once the requisite valour has been accessed, the GT can take corners with astonishing speed. The rear-wheel slip for which muscular Mercs have become known is in full evidence here, since those back wheels can sometimes find all that under-bonnet power a little too much. But that's all part of the fun.
Reliability
The Mercedes brand comes out well from most car surveys, including the JD Power Survey in which it was ranked fifth. However, as you would expect from such a new machine, there is no specific data for the GT as yet.
A three-year unlimited mileage warranty should put some minds at ease – and is certainly a better offer than that of Audi with its 60,000 mile limit.
Comfort
Well-designed seats provide good support for both driver and passenger – although given the rather rigid suspension set-up, they are a necessity. Road noise from the GT's wide tyres has been reported as more notable than that of rivals such as the Porsche 911, but not unbearably so.
Safety
With such a modest production run, NCAP crash test authority has not been required to turn its attention to the GT. However, with numerous airbags and an advanced collision detection system, it ticks all the safety boxes. If it thinks you’re about to hit an obstacle, it will apply the brakes; it even monitors how alert you are behind the wheel.
Space
A two-seat sports car is never going to win any spaciousness awards, but it does offer more boot capacity than the Porsche 911 – and certainly enough luggage space for a jaunt on the continent.
Fuel economy
One arguably doesn't purchase the current Mercedes' range-topper in order to soothe one's environmental compunctions, nor to cut down on one's petrol bill. And yet the GT and GT S's mpg figures aren't obscene – and are several shades less thirsty than the SLS-AMG. And the stated fuel economy figures are actually better than those of the Porsche 911 GTS, the BMW M6, and the Audi R8.
Verdict
Putting aside the overly-sensitive steering and noisy ride, the AMG GT is a wild stallion of a car that has been praised for its superb grip and an extremely powerful engine.
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