Mercedes->ke187 has big plans for the Mercedes-AMG GT that involves turning it into a multi-generational model that could end up as one of the Porsche 911’s->ke282 biggest rivals.
AMG->ke8 chief Tobias Moers told Motoring Australia at the 2014 Paris Motor Show->ke227 that the GT wouldn’t follow the same footsteps of its big brother, the SLS AMG, as a single-standing model. Instead, the GT will have a longer life that would span multiple generations. Moers even estimated that the first generation GT would be around for the next seven to eight years. In that time, it would spawn a handful of derivatives similar to how Porsche->ke1 treats the 911 before a generational replacement arrives in either 2021 or 2022.
The base GT and the more powerful GT S are the first two derivatives with many more to come in the next few years. Moers emphasises the importance of producing more multiple versions of the GT to keep the model fresh for its entire lifecycle. Moers calls it, “lifecycle management”.
The German automaker has been tight-lipped on the exact number of GT derivatives, but we do expect a convertible model to arrive soon, followed by a more powerful Black Series, and maybe even a GT3 race car->ke148 in the future. These models are only a few examples of what Mercedes-AMG has in store for the GT.
The market that already has a handful of awesome sports cars that compete against the 911. There’s the Audi R8,->ke1440 the Jaguar F-Type,->ke1224 and the upcoming McLaren P13.->ke4638 Mercedes-AMG wants the GT to succeed in the face of these rivals, and its nice to see the company laying the ground work to make it a strong competitor.
Click past the jump to read more about the Mercedes-AMG GT.
Why It Matters
The sports car market is healthier than it’s ever been, with worthy competitors from nearly every major nameplate. The Porsche 911 is still the gold-standard, but it isn’t lacking in challengers to its throne. Mercedes-AMG now has the GT to carry the Silver Arrow's banner into battle, but It still has a ways to go before it can prove itself worthy against the venerable Porsche.
With a long-term strategy consisting of multiple generations, Mercedes-AMG looks to be positioning the GT to receive the same timeless success of the 911.
Mercedes-AMG GT
The Mercedes-AMG GT was just revealed at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, yet it could go down as one of the most influential Mercedes models of all time. That’s a lot of expectations for a car that isn’t even a month removed from its long-awaited debut, but it’s hard to argue against the plans Mercedes-AMG has for it.
Hopefully, the GT lives up to all the hype and expectations Mercedes has for it. For now, I’m optimistic about the GT’s chances, but I also know that it’s way too early to make any predictions. The first-generation model does have a few things going for it, beginning with a sporty and aggressive design that’s heavily complemented by a powerful engine.
Under its hood, the GT is powered by a 4.0-liter V-8 engine that has two different output numbers. The “standard” GT produces 456 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque while its more powerful variant, the GT S, carries 503 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. The standard GT is capable of sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 189 mph. Meanwhile, the GT S’ 0 to 60 mph time is two-tenths faster at 3.7 ticks while its top speed sits at 193 mph.