The Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé is a controversial-looking technological tour de force
Nearly a decade ago, Mercedes-AMG released its first attempt at an electric supercar in the SLS AMG Electric Drive. With the same sexy body as the gas-powered SLS, four electric motors capable of 740 horsepower and 1,000Nm of torque, and around 250km of range at the time, it was essentially the first production electric supercar, though calling it “production” is a generous term, as fewer than 10 were ever produced.
Fast forward to today, and we see Mercedes-AMG repeat this formula with the GT 4-Door Coupé, executed in a rather controversial way that achieves what it was meant to do: get people talking.
We’re saving the controversy for last because what the Affalterbach has crammed underneath this is genuinely impressive. Up to YASA-developed three axial-flux electric motors allow for up to 1,169 horsepower and 2,000Nm of torque, and a top speed of 300kph (in the 63 trim).
These are innovative in the sense that they’re thinner and lighter, allowing for better packaging, and are more efficient and powerful, plus they can sustain the power and torque for longer periods of time, thanks to the new high-performance cooling system.
Couple that with the new High Performance Electric Architecture, and this allows for even more potential power, better energy recuperation, and faster charging. The 106kWh battery allows for up to 696km (WLTP) of range on a single charge, and it can add up to 460km of range in around 10 minutes with up to 600kW of charging power.
It also comes with an AMG air suspension with semi-active roll stabilizers as standard, which are all adjustable and feature hydraulic elements to help reduce body roll and further improve comfort, depending on your driving style, with rear steering to help with the vehicle’s stability and agility.
The slippery design allows for a very low 0.22Cd of drag coefficient, further enhanced with active aerodynamics. Two speed-dependent active aero elements in the underchassis produce the Venturi effect that helps “suck” the vehicle to the ground, while an active rear spoiler can either reduce drag or help generate downforce, alongside active vertical louvers to help cool the brakes when needed. Couple this with aerodynamic wheels with sizes that range from 19 to 21 inches, and it’s easy to see all the research put into this car.
Of course, there’s no getting around this car’s very controversial looks, where people can’t help but compare this car’s rounded, bloated shape and its bright green paint to looking like an angry frog up front, especially with tri-star headlight, lit-up grille with vertical slats, with the rear end having a big black housing with a red light strip above the three tri-star-inspired circle taillights.
The equally nightclub-looking, controversial interior with three screens also comes with the AMG Race Engineer suite that focuses on managing the entire powertrain, and that can be easily controlled by three knobs in the center console that change aspects of the electric motor in responsiveness, agility, and traction control.
There is also a specific drive mode called AMGFORCE S+, which does a few things to simulate the character of older V8-powered AMG GTs. The mode simulates the sound of an AMG GT R, alongside simulated gear shifts via the paddle shifters.
However, there’s no getting around what Mercedes’ direction is with its design and tech, and they’re here to be noticed on all ends. Would you want Mercedes-Benz Philippines to bring this in?
Photos from Mercedes-AMG
