Making History
Text: Bernard Hellberg
The second car to be independently designed and manufactured by Mercedes-AMG has recently been shown to the world press. It not only sets new standards in engine technology, but also paves the way for a new breed of sports car from the iconic Mercedes-Benz marque.
On 22ndDecember 1900, a brand new type of sports car, created by the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft, was delivered to one of its board members, Emil Jellinek, who named the car after his daughter Mercédès. The Mercedes 35hp was a revolutionary machine, conceived to overcome many of the challenges that plagued the “horseless carriages” of the day. It would have a wider track and a longer wheelbase for improved stability, while a chassis-mounted engine provided a lower centre of gravity and featured new technological breakthroughs such as an electric ignition system by Bosch that replaced the gas heated glow tube.
This first Mercedes was a true racing car that astounded the fledgling automotive industry. Jellinek drove the car to victory at the Nice to La Turbie races, reaching 60 km/h for the first time and beating his opponents, hands down, in all classes.The most recent successor to the title of true Mercedes sports car carries this heritage forward as the new Mercedes-AMG GT. With the GT, the Mercedes-AMG sports car brand is moving beyond the foundations laid by the SLS into a new, top-class sports car segment for the company.
The GT is the second sports car developed entirely in-house by Mercedes-AMG. Its front mid-engine concept with transaxle and its intelligent aluminium lightweight construction form the basis for a highly dynamic driving experience from a significantly new car.
Also significantly new is AMG’s compact 4.0-litre, V8 bi-turbo engine with internally mounted turbochargers and dry sump lubrication.
Configured in two output ratings – as the standard GT with 340 kW and as the GT S with 375 kW – the leaner AMG power plant sets new standards in performance and efficiency in the segment. The GT delivers everything you would expect from an authentic sports car. From its elegantly athletic styling, through to its thoroughbred, motorsport-inspired technology and optimum weight distribution. The centrepiece of the Mercedes-AMG GT, the new 4.0-litre, V8 bi-turbo, responds instantly with extreme power right from low revs and delivers outstanding performance. Mercedes-AMG claims astonishing figures such as 3.8 seconds from zero to 100 km/h and a top speed of 310 km/h (for the GT S), combined with fuel consumption of 9.3 litres per 100 kilometres (a considerable increase in efficiency).
Innovations
At the same time, the two-seater is an honest, comfortable and reliable companion for everyday driving, thanks to its easily accessible luggage hold, high levels of comfort, and the extensive Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive assistance systems.
Besides being an audacious showpiece for AMG tech, the GT represents something bigger for the Mercedes-AMG brand. “With the new GT we are positioning Mercedes-AMG even more aggressively than to date as a dynamic sports car brand,” says Tobias Moers, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. “With its technological substance, the Mercedes-AMG GT fulfils our high aspirations with regard to driving dynamics, agility and sportiness. The new GT is the second sports car developed fully independently by Mercedes-AMG. The car is manufactured according to the motto ‘Handcrafted by Racers’, which perfectly encapsulates our heritage and our spirit.”
The GT is like a perfectly timed symphony that is considerably more than just the sum of its parts. The combination of aluminium space frame, V8 bi-turbo engine, seven-speed dual clutch transmission in transaxle configuration at the rear axle, locking differential, double-wishbone aluminium sports suspension and low kerb weight (1,540 kg) delivers racetrack performance. Its front mid-engine layout also endows the GT with near-perfect weight distribution of 47 % to 53 % and, combined with a super-low centre of gravity, the GT can claim its place alongside the very best in its segment.
The GT also looks every bit the super sports car. Following the contemporary Mercedes design language of “sensual purity”, the GT gets a long bonnet with prominent power domes and a greenhouse, which has been set as far back as possible to make way for the mid-engine design configuration. Large alloy wheels and a broad tail end complete the GT’s very distinctive aviation-esque Mercedes profile.
Balancing the desire for specific weight distribution characteristics with the need for a spacious interior environment and practically sized load area presents a challenge for any new car design. Especially so in the layout of the interior, as the driver and passenger experience dare not be trumped by dynamic considerations.
The GT continues the classic Mercedes sports car aviation theme inside. The wide dashboard reminds one of a powerful wing and completely dominates the cockpit. The high beltlines, concave-shaped door panels and low seating position create a genuine driving machine environment that envelops the driver in the cockpit.
The dominant centre console’s styling makes it look as if it was lifted straight from a race car. Available trim options include silver chrome, matt carbon fibre, high-gloss carbon fibre, black diamond, and matt silver fibreglass.
The new AMG V8 engine revolutionises the use of turbo-charging by adding two blowers, not on the outside of the cylinder banks, but rather inside the V configuration. Dubbed a “hot inside V”, this advanced design means that the engine is smaller, the blowers work better from slow speeds, and the entire system wastes less exhaust gasses.
Dry sump lubrication is another first. It ensures oil supply for lubrication even with high lateral forces at play, allowing the engine to be positioned even lower, moving the centre of gravity closer to the road.Taking care of the audible engine experience, AMG also installed a specially designed GT performance exhaust system with fully variable exhaust flaps that can be adjusted by the driver for varying ambiences. The well-experienced Mercedes-Benz 7G-Tronic dual clutch gear system (remember that it sits in a transaxle configuration) has been extensively tweaked for the GT, and is fully variable.
The drive-train’s overall design is ideal for a real sports car, but it doesn’t lose any of the finesse needed for the GT to be a practical car too. Noise levels, ride comfort and fuel consumption were huge considerations when developing the drive-train.
The Mercedes-AMG GT is produced at Mercedes-Benz in Sindelfingen, while the engine is manufactured at Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach. Like every Mercedes, the GT boasts the active and passive safety features of the highest calibre, including numerous assistance systems that are used in the new S-Class. Collision Prevention Assist Plus, Adaptive Brake, Attention Assist, and the tyre pressure monitoring system are all standard, while even fancier options include Adaptive High-beam Assist, Pre-Safe, Parktronic and Lane Tracking and Keeping Assist, to name a few.
Considering the international runaway success of the GT’s predecessor, the SLS, we are expecting massive demand for the new sports mobile from Mercedes-AMG. It’s fast, it’s beautiful, it’s expensive, and it is ready to set hearts pounding across the globe.
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