Flat out in the brand new Mercedes AMG GT S

Charlie Turner gets up close and personal with AMG’s 911/F-Type rival for the first time

 

So what is it?
Short answer? It’s AMG's 911/Jaguar F-Type rival. The rather longer response is that it's an all-new sports car developed from the ground up by AMG.
With the last pair of SLSes rolling off the production line this month, this is AMG's first foray into the core sports car market currently occupied by the iconic 911 and the achingly beautiful F-Type.
The car we’re up close and personal with today is the ‘GT S’ (a less powerful ‘GT’ will arrive later in the production cycle), powered by an all-new 4-litre twin-turbo V8 producing a not-inconsiderable 510bhp and 480lb/ft (so think 911 Turbo and F-Type V8S). And yes, that’s supplied exclusively to the rear wheels.

No massive 6.3-litre, naturally-aspirated V8 then?
True, AMG’s history was built on naturally-aspirated V8 excellence, but in recent years the company has proved that you can downsize, add turbos, increase efficiency and still deliver an apocalyptic soundtrack that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand to attention. The A45 proved that it can do AWD too, so it's fair to say AMG is a brand on a technological roll right now.
OK, but what does it sound like?
On start up there's a guttural V8 rumble inside the cabin that’s pure AMG, and from the outside it barks into life with the exhaust baffles open, just to make sure everyone in the area knows you mean business. At tickover it thumps like its legendary ancestors, and when driven hard in race mode it pops and bangs on the overrun. At full throttle you can still hear the V8 pounding over the blast furnace rush of the exhaust. It’s brilliant.