By Miles Downard
The Mercedes Benz AMG GT-S is possibly the best car I’ve ever driven. It handles both the road and race track with absolute grace on the one hand and immense power on the other, feeling completely at home for either purpose. That’s a rare accomplishment. The Paris Motor Show shows us a new, even more exciting one.
1. No roof
As the title most likely gave away, this AMG GT is a roadster. Yes, now you can enjoy the aural delights of Affalterbach’s howling V8 uninterrupted by silly things like a roof. And my does it look good…I’m not normally one for roadsters but I think I’d make an exception here. I think the fact that Mercedes use a soft top (rather than a metal folder) makes all the difference as there’s no need to house a great chunk a steel in the boot, so the proportions are kept in check.
Watch this:Â BN Motoring get behind the wheel of the Mercedes AMG GTS
2. Two models
The open-top two-seater will be available in two versions from market launch in February 2017. In the base model the 4.0-litre V8 biturbo produces 350 kW and a whole load of torque. Then there’s something called the AMG GT-C, which in addition to looking a bit more aggressive than the sports 410 kW, with even more torque and some exclusive equipment and appointments. Inside there’s a new lighter-coloured leather option, while the optional AMG performance seats have Merc’s Airscarf system to keep your neck warm on cold evenings. The Burmester sound system has a couple tweaks as well.
3. The big boy
The AMG GT-C is obviously the more appealing one, so here’s why. It comes backed by a host of technology highlights from the ultra hardcore Mercedes AMG GT R. Among the most noteworthy are the ride control sports suspension with widened track at the rear, retuned dual-clutch transmission with new Race mode, active rear-axle steering and electronically controlled rear differential lock. There’s also active aerodynamics, with vertical louvres behind the grille opening and closing to boost cooling or reduce drag – features that aren’t available on the coupe variant.
There’s no indication when this will hit South African shores yet, but we’ll definitely keep an eye out for it. No doubt it’ll be worth the wait.
