Driven: Mercedes-AMG raises GT starting price

MERCEDES-BENZ Australia/Pacific has ushered in the lightly facelifted version of its AMG GT supercar, with the realigned range now kicking off from $311,142 plus on-road costs for the GT S Coupe.

Speaking to GoAuto last week at the GT national media launch in Macedon, Victoria, Mercedes-Benz Aust/Pac head of media relations and brand engagement Jerry Stamoulis said that while the supercar’s pricing has increased between $10,372 and $14,472, “there’s also an increase in spec and technology”.

“We’ve also consolidated the range. I think when you take that into account, it’s a natural increase,” he said.

Both the $260,770 GT Coupe and $285,770 GT Roadster have been deleted from the line-up, raising the GT range’s starting point by $50,372, with Mr Stamoulis revealing that sales of the entry-level pair were insignificant in pre-facelift form.

“Demand was low for both the (GT) Roadster and the (GT) Coupe, so we’re only offering the one roadster now – and that was the most popular roadster, the GT C,” he said.

“GT C and GT R make up most of the mix. So, realistically, we’ll probably see GT C as the most popular, followed by GT R and then GT S.”

The GT C Coupe and GT C Roadster are priced from $329,843 (+$14,073) and $355,242 (+$14,472) respectively, while the GT R Coupe checks in at $361,042 (+$10,272).

While a GT R Roadster has been recently introduced in other markets, Mr Stamoulis said it will not be offered in Australia due to its limited sales potential, with the surviving GT C Roadster only expected to account for about 10 per cent of the GT’s overall volume.

He added that the GT R Pro, an even more track-focused version of the ‘regular’ GT R, will not be heading Down Under after selling out globally following its debut at the Los Angeles motor show in November last year.

Australian buyers looking for a little extra oomph should not be deterred, though, as the most hardcore version of the GT, the yet-to-be-revealed Black Series Coupe, will soon be sprinting into local showrooms, although exact timing is still unknown.

While only 84 GTs have been sold to the end of September this year, down 41.3 per cent on the 143 deliveries made during the same period in 2018, Mr Stamoulis said the late arrival of the facelifted model has been a key factor in these figures.

“The sportscar market’s tough, but also whenever there’s a facelift coming, it does change the figures,” he said.

“We also had a jump last year because we launched GT R (Coupe). It took up almost 50 per cent of sales last year.”

Mr Stamoulis added that it was “hard to say” what volume the facelifted GT will achieve in 2020, its first calendar year on the market.

“We’re at that point with cars like the GT, the way it normally goes is you have a peak at the start and it sort of drops off. There’s some sportscars that have the same volume all the time, but at this end of the market it tends to peak at the start,” he said.

“Maybe we’ll see a little peak with the facelift, but realistically it’s the type of car we might see people ordering rather than keeping heavy stock of – it’s just not that type of car.”

As reported, the facelift focuses on dynamics and technology, with the headline addition being AMG Dynamics, which expands the functionality of the GT’s electronic stability control system to optimise rear-axle power distribution and steering characteristics.

AMG Dynamics is able to improve high-speed stability by anticipating how the GT will react to different scenarios by using sensors to detect vehicle speed, steering angle and yaw rate, among other variables.

Four levels of AMG Dynamics (Basic, Advanced, Pro and Master) are available, matched to the GT’s five Dynamic Select drive modes (Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus and Race).

Inside, a customisable 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster has been added alongside a 10.25-inch central display that is powered by Mercedes-Benz’s previous-generation Comand infotainment system which supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as Mercedes me Connect smartphone connectivity.

The GT borrows its new AMG GT 4-Door Coupe sibling’s AMG Performance flat-bottom steering wheel with touch-sensitive buttons and galvanised paddle-shifters as well as two round displays with three buttons that switch between the Dynamic Select drive modes and activate individual settings.

It also picks up the familiar V8-style centre console, which features eight coloured display buttons that alter transmission, chassis and exhaust settings, among others, as well as a new touchpad and palm rest.

Furthermore, the GT’s LED headlights and tail-lights have been reworked with a darkened theme, while the front cluster also has a new arched signature that combines its daytime running lights (DRLs) and indicators.

A redesigned black diffuser with integrated quad trapezoidal exhaust tailpipes is also found on the GT S Coupe, GT C Coupe and GT C Roadster, while the GT R Coupe’s rear fascia is unchanged.

Other new additions for the GT range include fresh sets of alloy wheels, a front-facing camera that enables traffic-sign recognition, and an enhanced racetrack data recorder dubbed AMG Track Pace, alongside new paintwork and upholstery options.

All GT variants are motivated by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine, which comes in three states of tune: 384kW/670Nm (GT S), 410kW/680Nm (GT C) and 430kW/700Nm (GT R).

Range-wide, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is responsible for exclusively sending drive to the rear wheels.

The GT S Coupe completes the 0-100km/h sprint in a scant 3.8 seconds – a tenth of a second behind than the GT C Coupe and GT C Roadster that are in turn 0.1s off the mark of the GT R Coupe (3.6s). Top speed is 310km/h, 317km/h, 316km/h and 318km/h respectively.

The new entry-level GT has a fuel-consumption claim of 9.5 litres per 100km on the combined-cycle test, while its carbon dioxide emissions are 221 grams per kilometre.

The mid-range offering is the least efficient, drinking 11.5L/100km and emitting 261g/km, although the flagship is just 0.1L/100km and 2g/km better off.

Standard equipment in the GT S Coupe includes AMG Ride Control adaptive suspension, rear electronic limited-slip differential, bi-modal exhaust system, staggered matte-black 19- and 20-inch alloy wheels, red brake callipers, a retractable rear spoiler, panoramic sunroof, satellite navigation, 640W Burmester sound system with 10 speakers, power-adjustable sports seats with heating, Nappa leather upholstery, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.

The GT C Coupe and GT C Roadster pick up dynamic engine and transmission mounts, retuned suspension, rear-axle steering, staggered Titanium Grey 19- and 20-inch alloy wheels, and AMG Performance seats with ventilation, while the roadster also includes a fabric soft-top, Airscarf neck-level heating and a draught-stop.

Justifying its positioning atop the GT line-up, the GT R Coupe adds unique bumpers, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, staggered matte-black 19- and 20-inch alloy wheels, yellow brake callipers, a carbon-fibre roof, fixed rear spoiler, Nappa leather/Dinamica microfibre upholstery and high-gloss black interior trim over the GT C Coupe.