New GT both practical and thrilling
Mercedes sports car boasts two turbochargers mounted inside a V configuration
GO, GO, GO!” shouted the driving instructor before moments later screaming “Brake, brake, brake! Now turn in. That’s it. Ok, now hit it. Foot flat to the floor.”
I obliged and the powerful V8 4.0-litre biturbo Mercedes-AMG GT leapt forward with such pace I was pushed back into the driver’s seat.
We had just exited a hairpin bend and after a short straight were entering a long gradual right-hander at Zwartkops race track outside Pretoria when he barked: “Don’t tap off, have confidence in the vehicle.”
That’s easier said than done when every part of your body is telling you to slow down.
But this was my timed lap and I didn’t want to be known as the “Captain Slow” of South African motoring journalists so I kept my foot firmly pressed to the floor.
The GT didn’t miss a beat and held its line through the bend, never wavering.
I couldn’t help myself and let out a scream of pure joy (or fear) as we exited the corner at what felt like warp speed onto another short straight before the instructor was once again yelling at me to “brake hard”.
That’s the appeal of the new MercedesAMG GT – with its array of high tech driver assistance systems it allows an average Joe like me to enjoy the thrill of track racing when not commuting to the office each day in traffic.
Voted World Performance Car 2015, it has everything you would expect from an authentic Mercedes-AMG sports car – beautiful styling, thoroughbred motorsport technology and everyday practicality.
It boasts the first sports car engine with internally mounted turbochargers (“hot inside V”) and dry sump lubrication, and is available in two output ratings – the GT with 340kW and the GT S with 375kW. Of course neither is cheap. The former sells for a shade over R1.6million while the latter comes in at a touch under R2-million.
But the vehicle is just the second sports car developed entirely in-house by Mercedes-AMG and in the “S” guise boasts figures of 3.8 seconds from zero to 100 km/h and a top speed of 310km/h.
Motoring journalists were recently given the opportunity to put it through its paces at the launch in Gauteng, which consisted of track, road driving and a stint at Gerotek, the specialised vehicle testing station outside Pretoria.
The GT is a good looking vehicle from every angle, with its long bonnet, stylish cabin, large wheels and broad tail end.
The interior design is just as impressive with quality material used throughout.
Although only a two-seater, there is a parcel shelf behind the seats for a briefcase or laptop bag.
But it’s under the hood where the real appeal lies. The 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine was developed specifically for the GT and features the brand’s emotive V8 engine sound.
The two turbochargers are mounted inside the V configuration, which experts call a “hot inside V”.
This allows for a compact engine design, optimum turbocharger response and low exhaust gas emissions.
Dry sump lubrication ensures oil supply even when high lateral forces are applied.
This has allowed the engine to be installed lower, moving the centre of gravity closer to the road.
The biturbo engine is produced according to AMG’s “one man, one engine” principle, which sees qualified fitters assemble them by hand. Each AMG engine plate bears the engine technician’s signature.
We got to experience first-hand just how quick the GT really is on a straight run at Gerotek, using launch control from a standing start.
We hit 250km/h before having to smartly apply the brakes as we ran out of track.
When it comes to stopping, the GT is fitted with internally ventilated, perforated 360-millimetre brake discs all-round.
On the GT S these discs measure 390mm at the front to cope with the higher performance. A ceramic high-performance composite brake system is available for both models as an option.
The straight run was followed by a couple of laps at the high speed test track before taking a scenic journey back to Zwartkops racetrack outside Pretoria.
The vehicle drew envious glances and more than a few “nice car” comments. Described by Mercedes-AMG chairman Tobias Moers as an “everyday” sports car, it was a pleasure in traffic thanks to the different driving modes – individual, comfort, sport and sport plus.
Each sets the car up differently and for town driving we employed comfort mode while for our hot laps at Zwartkops racetrack, sport plus.
The GT S also features race mode which makes the response characteristics of the biturbo engine even more immediate.
Impressively, just over 90% of the body shell, which weighs just 231kg, is made from aluminium.
The GT’s impressive handling is thanks to a mechanical rear-axle locking differential, which contributes to driving safety in all conditions.
The GT S is fitted with an electronically controlled rear-axle locking differential.
Double-wishbone suspension is used at the front and rear – a technology adopted straight from motorsport – while weight distribution is 47% (front) to 53% (rear).
Safety hasn’t been skimped on and the GT has adopted numerous driver assistance systems that come from the S-Class.
Standard-fit restraint systems include three-point seat belts, front airbags, combined thorax/pelvis sidebags, windowbags and kneebags.
Space is normally a luxury in two seater sports cars but the luggage compartment capacity is 350 litres, while a large boot lid makes for easy loading.