► We drive the new Mercedes-AMG GT
► 47bhp and 37lb ft down on existing GT S
► Fixed-rate damping, fewer toys, £10k cheaper
I absolutely loved the AMG GT S on our 2015 Sports Car Giant Test – a bright yellow streak of 21st century hot rod, so wonderfully composed at speed, and so broadly talented that the thought of living with one every day actually made my mouth water. How then fairs this, the now-finally-on-sale non-S version?
Compared to the range-topper, the standard AMG GT is bereft of 47bhp, 37lb ft, electronic control for the rear diff and three-stage adaptive dampers. The power and torque you probably won’t miss, since AMG’s bespoke 4.0-litre twin-turbo is gloriously ridiculous in every application – a great growling, gurgling, bear-with-a-sore-head of a V8 that hypnotises you into reaching for the exhaust LOUDER button instantaneously. In raw performance terms, S or no S, the AMG GT is the canine’s unmentionables, make no mistake.
Where it all goes a bit off message is in the disjointed relationship between the steering and the suspension. Even in the S the steering is a weird floaty-light affair at lower speeds, but it comes good as you go faster and faster; sadly the fixed-rate damping just doesn’t rise to the challenge, crashing into depressions and thumping over bumps in a manner that pointedly suggests you should slow down. Oh dear.
This quickly leads to irritation elsewhere. The gargantuan width and snooker table bonnet dimensions are enchanting, but the monster centre tunnel is like the wall of Jericho between you and your significant other, while the utterly blatant prioritisation of style over function amongst the secondary controls is simply maddening. Having to practically reach behind you to use the gear selector is one thing; not actually being able to see the buttons on the roof is quite another.
Dammit Mercedes. Guess I’ll go back to daydreaming about that 911.
The specs: Mercedes AMG GT
Price: £97,200
Engine: 3982cc 32v twin-turbo V8, 456bhp @ 6000rpm, 442lb ft @ 1600-5000rpm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Performance: 4.0sec 0-62mph, 189mph, 30.4mpg, 216g/km CO2
Weight: 1615kg
On Sale: Now
Rating: ****
Verdict: Pay £15k more for an S with the Dynamic Plus pack