Mercedes- AMG to Debut a Panamera-Fighting Sports Sedan
Mercedes-AMG will give a preview of its upcoming Porsche Panamera fighter at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. The German automaker is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and will start things off in Geneva next month with a four-door sedan concept called the GT4. It will preview a future production model powered by a new 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine generating around 600 horsepower. Autocar reports the Mercedes-AMG GT4 will replace the CLS Shooting Brake in the U.K. when it arrives dealerships in 2018.
But since the North American market doesn’t get the CLS Shooting Brake, the GT4 will essentially be a new addition to the company’s lineup, competing with other four-door coupes in the segment like the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe, Audi A7/S7 and, of course, the Porsche Panamera.
Interestingly, the GT4 won’t ride on the same platform as the existing Mercedes-AMG GT sports car. Instead, it will be underpinned by Mercedes-Benz’s modular rear architecture (MRA) currently used on the C63, E63 and S63 models. It has been modified so the GT4 has a “unique” wheelbase and track width measurements, according to AMG insiders.
Along with the new 4.0-liter engine that has already been confirmed for the new E63, it’s believed AMG is considering pairing the engine with a newly developed integrated starter generator (ISG). The ISG would be able to provide short bursts of extra power with the 20-hp electric motor mounted within the gearbox, as well as instant start-up for seamless stop-start performance.
Check back with AutoGuide.com for more information on the Mercedes-AMG GT4 Concept once it debuts at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show in March.