The 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT

The 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT performs brilliantly on any kind of pavement, making it one of our favorite modern sports cars.

The 2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT is a firebrand for the luxury brand, and a serious contender among the world's sports cars, supercars—even race cars.

This year, Mercedes fleshes out the range even further, which begins with the touring-oriented AMG GT and works its way through GT S, GT C, and track-ready GT R variants. GT and GT C versions are even available as convertibles—just the ticket for high-speed, al fresco ‘bahn burning. We’re big fans of the AMG GT lineup, even if they force considerably daily driver compromises in their quest to deliver the highest level of performance available behind Mercedes’ signature three-pointed star.

All AMG GTs use a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine, rated from 469 to 585 horsepower that sends power rearward via a 7-speed dual-clutch transaxle. Even the slowest of the pack sprints to 60 mph in under four seconds, but numbers aren’t the main draw here. The AMG GT delivers the kind of pure driving experience we’ve not seen from a Mercedes-Benz in decades. Even the roughly $112,000 base GT is a raw, but refined corner carver loaded with racing-derived technology.

The AMG GT’s V-8 is mounted behind the front axle, which delivers a 47/53 front/rear weight split. Power makes its way to the transaxle via a massive carbon fiber “torque tube.” Once back there, a true locking differential rapidly sends grunt where it is needed and rear-axle steering on some variants helps these sports cars feel planted on even the most demanding course. Depending on the model, up to five driving modes including a custom-tailored Individual setting let the AMG GT either lope around in town or scream to its maximum potential on a closed course.

What really sets the AMG GT apart, however, is its hydraulic power steering. Rivals have largely adopted electric steering. Even the best systems—we’re looking at the Porsche 911—don’t quite compare to the natural feel delivered through the GT’s thick-rimmed, leather-wrapped tiller.

The AMG GT looks the part, too. Its exceptionally long hood gives way to a curvy, surprisingly upright and short windshield. The roofline tapers into a hatchback with a pair of squinting taillights—perhaps the only view some sports cars will ever see. The droptop is just divine, too, especially when its cloth roof is specified in a muted color rather than the “default” black canvas.


2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT
Performance

The 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT might not have the gravitas of the division’s first go-around—the SLS—but this one’s for drivers and drivers alone. We’ve rated this diverse lineup a full 10 out of 10, which is an easy number to reach once you’ve considered its underhood muscle, the tenacity of its handling, the directness of its steering, its compliant ride, and its ability to transform from daily driver to track star at the twist of a control knob. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

At the heart of all versions of the AMG GT lies a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 that sends power rearward via a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transaxle tied to a pair of delectable paddle shift levers. Placed behind the axle and low into the car’s aluminum space frame, the V-8 ‘s location helps improve the AMG GT’s balance. Base AMG GTs make 469 horsepower, but the 465 pound-feet torque that rolls on just after idle is this engine’s MVP. A guttural snarl through the GT’s sports exhaust further enhances the experience .


Step up to the AMG GT S and power increases to 515 hp and 494 lb-ft, substantial but not exactly earth-shattering figures. Performance is, predictably, a bit more rapid. The bigger change is the inclusion of an adjustable sports suspension to replace the trick Multimatic struts found in the base GT. Comfort mode is softer than the standard GT, while Sport firms things up with little reduction in quality.

The AMG GT C’s 550 hp and 502 lb-ft makes it the master of nearly any road and it adds rear-axle steering that both aids straight-line stability and makes these coupes and convertibles feel even more nimble on a winding country road.

The AMG GT R tops the lineup. Its story goes far beyond the 577 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque rating made possible by upsized turbos. Here, you’ll find the sharpest suspension of the group with universal ball joints that replace control arm bushings in the lower rear wishbones. Even pushed to the limit, they don’t give in. That’s to the detriment of ride quality, but who cares? It means that road feedback through the steering wheel, already an AMG GT asset, is amplified.

A yellow knob sprouting out of the dashboard gives the driver a staggering nine traction control modes to pick from—and that’s not including the five drive modes accessed via a separate knob.

But don’t think that the AMG GT R is the only way to have a pure, honest, driving experience. We hold the AMG GT close to our hearts for its relative simplicity and delightfully analog feel. Then again, the rear-wheel steering that’s on GT Cs is a game-changer, albeit one that comes with a hefty price tag.