Last year, Mercedes-AMG decided to fight back agains the likes of the BMW M6 and Porsche 911 with its new sports car, the AMG GT. The Mercedes-AMG GT is a classic-looking sports car, with a long hood and short rear deck, but is anything but classic underneath. The standard AMG GT features a 4.0 liter twin turbocharged engine, dual-clutch transaxle-mounted transmission and enough electronics on board to make battleships insecure. Since its debut, the Mercedes-AMG GT lineup has increased significantly, growing to have a GT S model, GT C Roadster and GT R. Now, there’s the Mercedes-AMG GT C and it just debuted at the 2017 NAIAS. Following along?
Probably the only downfall of the Mercedes-AMG GT lineup is the naming system which is just messy and confusing. However, none of that matter once you look a bit closer. The new AMG GT C slots nicely in the lineup and offers a good blend of incredible performance tech without being terrifyingly fast.
The AMG GT C packs the same 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8 as the rest of its model brethren but it pumps out 550 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque. That’s more than the AMG GT and AMG GT S, but less than the AMG GT R. However, Mercedes claims that it can get from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds and that it has a top speed of 197 hp, which is damn fast.
It also gets a new sport suspension (why do sporty cars need sport suspension? Shouldn’t they only be sporty?) which stiffens things up even more than in the standard car. The AMG GT C also gets four-wheel steering and bigger brakes, so it will stop and handle just as well as it accelerates.
From the outside, the AMG GT C can only be identified from its siblings by its slightly wider wheel track and fenders, as well as slightly more negative camber and massive rear wheels, 305-section tires out back. It also gets the brand’s new “Panamericana” grille, which features numerous vertical slats. There will be a launch edition for this car, called the “AMG GT C Edition 50”, which will distinguish itself with a matte Graphite Gray Magno paint color with black chrome wheels and trim.
Inside, the AMG GT C is business as usual for the model line, which is a good thing. The cabin of the AMG GT C is filled with rich materials and a great design. The Edition 50 models get black and grey quilted leather with microsuede touches throughout.
We’ve always been fans of the Mercedes-AMG GT model line, despite being BMW fans, as it’s sort of impossible to not fall for its classic sports car beauty and rip-roaring performance. This car currently competes with the BMW M6 Competition Package and Porsche 911, but the former will struggle to keep up, as it’s significantly older and lacking the chassis technology of the AMG.
