First Drive: 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT

Every manufacturer needs a halo car; an encapsulation of all the engineering expertise a brand can muster. Something to adorn bedroom poster walls and ignite aspirations, casting a glow over the rest of the model range.

And you have to agree that Mercedes-Benz has always been particularly good at this. Think back to the original 300 SL of yesteryear with its glorious gullwing doors, or the breathtaking SLR developed in tandem with McLaren. These models elicited reverence in their heyday and are still etched firmly on the minds of enthusiasts. The SLS AMG served in this position gracefully until it bowed out in 2013, and the void it left at the top of the tier has just been filled.

The Mercedes-AMG GT snarled onto the South African motoring scene recently. Company representatives were quick to mention that it should not be considered as a successor to the SLS. Rather, this is an interpretation of the classic sports car genre — and seeks to upset the sports car apple cart, where offerings such as the Porsche 911have long ruled the roost.

So it is unlikely to be a coincidence that the GT seems to have borrowed cues from the Stuttgart rival, particularly in the rear side quarter angles. But the new AMG is unequivocally striking, with a lengthy prow, pert rump, slippery silhouette and aggressive visage. Interestingly, the designers were said to have stayed away from the “flame surface” approach that defines the current crop of cars from Mercedes-Benz. Subtle lines and classic coupé proportions were the priority.

With The great attention it received during our test drive on public roads, it is safe to conclude that Mercedes-AMG was successful in its mandate to make a car that inspires awe. But solely looking the part is not good enough when your mission in life is to compete with something as venerable as the 911. The SLS might have been blessed aesthetically, but in my humble opinion it was not remarkable from a dynamic perspective. Sure, it was powerful and loud — but heavy, too — giving it a cumbersome personality. Steps were taken to ensure a similar fate would not befall the GT.

For starters, the gullwing doors were scrapped to keep weight down and maintain a high level of rigidity. The core body frame weighs in at a relatively low 233kg. Engineers sought to quell nose heaviness by placing the engine further back into the bay — and the AMG has a 47/53 weight distribution. Adjectives such as “focused,” “pure” and “immersive” were used liberally by the marketing team. Even the most cynical hacks could not stifle their eagerness to sample the new GT over a schedule that included a stop at the Gerotek testing facility and track time at Zwartkops Raceway.

There are two derivatives to pick from, the standard version with 340kW, or the S version packing 375kW. Only the latter was available for us to sample and there were two Edition 1 models, too, resplendent in their meaner outfits. Remember that this GT is powered by the very same engine doing duty in the C 63 AMG we reported on last month. It is a nuclear power station of an engine and has something to give with every single millimetre of pedal depression.

In the name of consumer journalism, we simply had to put the launch control system in the GT to the test. The system is pretty easy to use. I lined up at the beginning of the Gerotek testing straight. Holding back both steering shifter paddles to engage launch control. Foot on the brake, accelerator mashed to the floor. The GT tachometer sits at 4 000rpm ready to shoot off the line. Boom. That long snout rears up just a bit, as the car heaves towards the horizon. They claim a sprint time of 3.8 seconds, by the time I had glanced down at the speedometer we were already doing 200km/h on the short stretch.

A single expletive escaped the mouth of my colleague in the passenger seat. Which just about sums up the kind of speed you can expect here. On the high speed oval the opportunity came to really unleash the beast. And like with the C 63, just when you think the GT might start showing resistance to the laws of physics, you plant the power pedal down and it shows it still has plenty more to give. The thrill of acceleration in this car is astounding and addictive.

But we ought to tackle the matter of handling. By now you know that most cars wearing the AMG badge — perhaps excluding the compact cars — are quite happy to plant overzealous drivers into a barrier. I mean, most reviews you saw of the SLS probably included copious amounts of sideways action and tyre smoke. Be in no doubt that the GT is more than able to shake its tail out. But there is a word here you might have never applied to an AMG before. Poise.

You can finesse it through a circuit such as Zwartkops without feeling like it wants to kill you. Its performance is remarkably accessible and with its variety of modes — including a Race feature — the GT makes one look and feel like a regular Lewis Hamilton. Naturally, the purists might moan about this. But making a powerful sports car with appeal to a wider audience and better usability makes it easier to vie for a slice of the 911 pie. Easy daily usability does appear to be one of its strong suits.

It has a reasonably commodious boot, manoeuvrability, and parking is manageable. And that sumptuous interior, with its aeronautic-inspired theme, is a superb place to be. There are some ergonomic oversights, such as the placement of the emergency light switch, located in a panel on the roof. But that minor gripe aside, the GT is an excellent achievement. Unlike the SLS before it, which had charisma in spades but a little less in the substance department, this latest halo car from Mercedes-AMG has both virtues in equal measures.

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-Brenwin Naidu

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