Driven: Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door Coupe blasts in

BY TUNG NGUYEN | 1st Jul 2019

MERCEDES-AMG’S GT63 S 4-door Coupe flagship, priced at $349,900 plus on-road costs, is expected to make up the lion’s share of volume in the newly launched super-sedan range, outselling its cheaper $249,900 GT53 counterpart.

Speaking to journalists last week at the launch of the new model, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific (MBAP) media relations and product communications manager Ryan Lewis confirmed the performance-hungry local market is expected to consume higher quantities of the 470kW/900Nm GT63 S.

“Having not had this vehicle before, we will sort of let the market find its level, but the expectation with Australia is likely the V8 will be more popular,” he said.

Though Mr Lewis would not be drawn on the exact sales split, MBAP has already begun delivering GT 4-door Coupes to customers, with 12 new registrations recorded in May.

Despite the boosted practicality of two extra doors and second-row pews, Mr Lewis also expects the two-door GT to outsell its four-door sibling, with the former finding 20 new homes last month.

While Australian showrooms will only play host to the 53 and 63 S variants of the GT 4-door Coupe, overseas markets will also have access to the entry-level 43 grade, which employs the same 3.0-litre bi-turbo 270kW/520Nm 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine as the CLS450.

When asked by GoAuto why the German brand decided not to bring in the 53, MBAP managing director and chief executive Horst von Sanden said the business case for the baby GT 4-door Coupe did not stack up.

“We are still a small market in comparison and quite a successful AMG market – still the highest penetrating AMG market in the world – but this limited volume can only digest so much variety (in the GT 4-door Coupe range), otherwise you get it wrong in the planning and then you lose money,” he said.

“I think three variants in that very limited segment would be too much.”

Mr Lewis also said the “more sophisticated” 48-volt mild-hybrid system in the GT53 4-door Coupe also “makes sense” for the local market when compared with the simpler 43 variant.

Opening the Australian GT 4-door Coupe range, the 53 makes use of a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine developing 320kW of power at 6100rpm and 520Nm of torque from 1800-5800rpm. With Benz’s EQ Boost mild-hybrid technology in tow, an added 16kW/250Nm is also available temporarily.

With drive sent to a rear-biased 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive (AWD) system via a nine-speed torque-converter automatic transmission, the GT53 4-door Coupe will accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 5.3 seconds while sipping 10.4 litres per 100km of petrol and emitting 239 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre.

Buyers are also treated to 20-inch wheels, a hands-free tailgate, adaptive LED headlights with high-beam assist, yellow-painted AMG brake callipers, a 14-speaker Burmester sound system, all-digital instrumentation, wireless phone charging and a widescreen infotainment system with satellite navigation, digital radio and Bluetooth connectivity.

Following on from the SLS and two-door GT as AMG’s third standalone model, the GT 4-door Coupe also receives bespoke goodies from Affalterbach, including a performance exhaust, adaptive suspension, a rear electronic limited-slip differential, front sports seats, a Nappa leather- and Dinamica microfibre-trimmed steering wheel, and track-orientated telematics and performance readouts.

Safety equipment, however, is still paramount despite the GT53’s pace and comprises surround-view cameras, blind-spot monitoring, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep and -change assist, nine airbags, electronic stability control, tyre pressure monitoring and hill-start assist.

Stepping up to the top-shelf GT63 S 4-door Coupe swaps out the inline six-cylinder engine for AMG’s ubiquitous 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, which produces 470kW at 6500rpm and 900Nm from 2500-4500rpm.

Compared with the current two-door 430kW/700Nm GT R flagship, the GT63 S 4-door Coupe is 40kW/200Nm more potent, though it is expected the latter’s engine tune will make its way into a coupe body style in the near future.

The uprated engine also means the automatic transmission is upgraded to a nine-speed wet-clutch shifter, and with drive sent to the same 4Matic+ system, it results in a 3.6s 0-100km/h sprint time.

However, the prodigious pace comes at the cost of a higher 11.4L/100km fuel-economy rating and a more pollutant 259g/km of CO2 emissions.

The extra $100,000 spend not only nets buyers a more potent drivetrain, however, with 21-inch wheels, heated seats, power-closing doors, four-wheel steering, carbon-fibre interior trim and active engine mounts added to the equipment list as standard.

However, many buyers are expected to add their own flair to the GT 4-door Coupe, with seven option bundles available, as well as the ever-present Edition 1 package exclusive to the 63 S grade that throws in an AMG aerodynamics package, 21-inch wheels, sports stripes, cooled front seats and more for $5900.

Other packs include the Luxury Rear pack that swaps out the second-row three-pew bench for two individual rear seats ($5300 on the 53, $4600 on the 63 S), the AMG Exterior Carbon-fibre package which adds lightweight body-kit elements ($9500), and AMG Aerodynamics package with a fixed rear wing, a larger diffuser and a tweaked front bumper (exclusive to the 63 S for $7300).

Rear-axle steering can also be optioned on the 53 for $4400, a fixed carbon-fibre roof can be had for $5900, an upgraded 25-speaker Burmester sound system costs $10,400, a carbon-fibre engine cover will set buyers back $2000 and AMG high-performance ceramic brakes will add $17,900 to the price tag.

Seven wheel designs are also available, ranging from 19 inches (a no-cost option) to 21-inch hoops, while 10 exterior colours and four interior trim options are offered.