When you think of Mercedes-AMG, the first thing you think of is the sheer dedication to the craft of the engine. Their philosophy is ‘one man, one engine’. So much individual care is put in that all AMG engines include an engraved signature of the builder who built it. With the GT S, their foray into Coupes, that signature is on the engine of a smaller, cheaper car than the SLS AMG. But the GT S has become the manufacturer’s flagship sports car. How does it hold up?
All three variants of the vehicle bring with them with the same engine. They house a 4.0-liter turbocharged 8-cylinder engine. That means you’re looking at 503hp. With a standard curb weight of 1,615–1,645 kg, there is no doubt that you have plenty of power at your disposal. You can reach 0 – 60 mph in an absolutely blinding 3.0 seconds. That’s all down to a structure build that’s 93% aluminum. As well as a weight distribution that puts the engine in the middle of the V, giving it a better center of gravity.
The design of the GT S is a big step up from the SLS AMG, too. The gullwing doors might have looked fancy, but they were cumbersome when the novelty wore off. Now a shorter body and conventional set of doors only work to the advantage of improving that lower center of gravity.
So, how does it feel to drive? As you might imagine, fantastic. There’s a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and a multi-link suspension. These additions finish off what the weight distribution and engine started. A sharper, more stable car. One with excellent grip, particularly for a front-engine car using rear-wheel drive. Steering might be a bit sensitive to those who aren’t used to dealing with at kind of power, but not as twitchy as others in its market. The car is even a joy on those lazy long drives thanks to the dampers of Comfort mode. That grip means that you’re never really going to be pushing the limits of the car unless you get out on a track, of course.
The GT S is cheaper than the SLS AMG, but it’s the kind of price you should be expecting from a supercar that’s a few rungs above entry level. You can get it at a respectable $136,995 if you click here. The running costs are nothing to turn your nose up at, either. But if you’re in the market for a six-figure supercar, you know what you’re going for.
One of the things you’re going for isn’t space. The boot is fairly shallow with an uneven floor to it. Meaning that it can be difficult to fit in what you want without playing a bit of Tetris with your belongings. But otherwise, you’re looking at a very conventionally useful car. Collision Prevention Assist and rigorous safety testing make it a safe drive above all else. Going for a bit extra can net you a reversing camera and blind spot warning, too.
The simple truth of the matter is that the GT S will give you exactly what you’re after. Quality outside, quality inside, quality under the hood. A bit of sensitive steering and noise on the motorway likely isn’t enough to put you off. If you want a supercar, then it shouldn’t be, either.
