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Mercedes-amg GT four-door

IT’S SURELY a sign of the times when a new Mercedes-amg model arrives with 470kw and it’s not even the performance flagship. That’s the case with the GT four-door, very much an E-class under the skin and effectively an upmarket replacement for the AMG CLS63.

The scale of AMG’S ambition with this model is evident in the range of engine choices. Opening the line-up is the GT 53 powered by the new turbocharged 3.0-litre in-line six with an electric compressor, good for 320kw/520nm.

Next rung up features the ubiquitous 4.0-litre V8 in base, non-s tune, making 430kw and 800Nm, which happen to be the outputs of the most hardcore of the current coupe line up, the GT R.

Topping this – for now – is the real heavy hitter, the GT 63 S, belting out a new personal best for the M178 engine: 470kw and 900Nm. All three models use the MCT 9G transmission and the 4matic all-wheel-drive system from the E63, making a clear mechanical distinction between this four-door and the Coupe models, the latter of which have ‘just’ seven ratios and are rear-drive only.

The advantages of AWD traction and extra gear ratios appear to be born out in the performance figures. The GT 63 S weighs 2045kg (a whopping 495kg more than the GT R coupe) yet allegedly gets to 100km/h 0.2sec faster than that car, in a claimed 3.2 seconds.

But as they say in the infomercials, wait, there’s more. We understand that a range-topping hybrid model will follow in 2019, using an electric motor on the rear axle to help produce a combined 590kw and offering an electric-only range of around 50km.