Driven: Mercedes-AMG grows GT family

MERCEDES-AMG has tripled the size of its halo GT sportscar range, bringing four new variants to market and updating its two existing models with the arrival this month of the updated version.

Despite the increase in variants, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific public relations and product communications manager Jerry Stamoulis said the car-maker was not worried about sales being spread too thin across the range, adding that there was a space for different types of customers across the range.

“If you look at the GT Roadster, if you want a convertible Mercedes-Benz two-seater, you’re buying that probably more because its a two-seat roadster rather than because it’s a GT, so that’s one customer,” he told GoAuto at the media launch in Melbourne last week.

“GT (coupe), that’s your entry, that’s a different customer again.

“GT S is someone who wants a genuine sportscar grand tourer, it’s a little firm, you can drive it a little bit faster, that’s where the emotional part comes in, that’s another customer.

“Then you’ve got GT C. You’ve got the roadster, that’s for your performance buyer who wants a roadster. Then you’ve got GT C coupe, which is your ‘I don’t want a GT R, I don’t want the big wing, I don’t need the wider guards, but I want something that is sportier than the GT S’.

“We looked at, how can we whittle this down, how can we make the range smaller, but there is genuinely a customer that we can identify for each of those.”

The range still kicks off with the GT Coupe, which has seen a marginal drop in price to $258,711 plus on-roads, while adding extra performance and tweaks to its styling.

Power from the 4.0-litre biturbo V8, which powers the entire GT range, has been amped up 10kW/30Nm to 350kW/630Nm, while the whole line-up gets the Panamerica grille with vertical chrome bars.

The GT will also be offered in drop-top convertible guise for the first time, which adds a $25,000 premium over the coupe, bringing the asking price up to $283,711.

Specification and power output matches its coupe counterpart, apart from convertible-specific equipment such as a fabric roof that opens and closes in 11 seconds up to 50km/h.

The first GT variant to arrive in Australia back in 2015, the GT S, gets a 9kW/20Nm boost bringing it to 384kW/670Nm, and benefits from a small reduction in price, now costing buyers $298,711 plus on-roads.

In addition to the specification of the GT, the GT S adds 19- or 20-inch titanium grey alloy wheels, AMG sports suspension, AMG dynamic plus package, performance exhaust, glass panoramic roof, red brake callipers, limited-slip differential, autonomous cruise control and Nappa leather upholstery.

The newly-introduced GT C variant pumps power up to 410kW/680Nm, and in coupe form will be offered initially in limited-run Edition 50 guise to commemorate its launch.

The asking price for the GT Coupe stands at $313,711 plus on-roads, with extra goodies including climatised AMG performance seats, steering wheel upholstered in Nappa leather and Dinamica microfibre, polished titanium grey five-spoke alloys, and rear-axle steering.

As with the GT, upgrading to the GT C roadster adds a $25,000 premium, bringing it to $338,711 plus on-roads, and in addition to the kit in the coupe, adds the Mercedes Airscarf neck-warming system.

The Porsche 911 Turbo-baiting GT R sits atop the GT range, with a mighty 430kW/700Nm output and a pricetag to match.

Setting buyers back $348,711 plus on-roads, the sizeable asking price hasn’t been enough to deter keen customers, with order books for the halo variant still full for approximately the next 12 months.

The GT R adds a number of visual flairs including wing spoiler, front splitter and rear bumper, while carbon-fibre and aluminium have been used throughout to save weight.

The GT R completes the zero to 100km/h sprint in 3.6 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 318km/h, and currently holds the title of fastest production vehicle to lap the famous Mount Panorama circuit.

To the end of September, Mercedes-AMG has sold 101 examples of the GT range, representing a 12.2 per cent boost over the 115 sold to the same point last year.

It currently sits fifth on the sales ladder for the $200,000-plus sportscar segment, behind the Porsche 911 (368), Ferrari range (134), BMW 6 Series (108) and Aston Martin coupe/convertibles (106).

2017 Mercedes-AMG GT

Coupe
GT (a)	$258,711
GT S (a)	$298,711
GT C Edition 50 (a)	$335,211
GT R (a)	$348,711
Roadster
GT (a)	$283,711
GT C (a)	$338,711

*Excludes on-road costs