The SLS is dead, long live the GT. This is the Mercedes-AMG GT, a two-door, two-seat super-coupé that is, indirectly, the replacement for the not-so-long-gone SLS gullwing supercar, and which also represents something of a major change in Mercedes-Benz naming policy. For the first time in more than 100 years, gone is the reference to company founder Karl Benz, and instead the alphabetic trifecta of AMG steps up to the plate alongside the Mercedes name, emphasising the huge significance that AMG now carries for Mercedes.
Right, enough with the namby-pamby background and history, let's talk performance. How about 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds and a top speed of just over 300km/h? Boom, there it is - this rear-drive, 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8-engined coupé is as fast as a Porsche 911 Turbo, generally considered the be the fastest way of crossing ground short of something with a Boeing badge. The GT may be smaller and lighter than the SLS AMG, but it packs an even bigger performance wallop. Those mourning the death of the SLS's old naturally aspirated 6.3-litre V8 can probably dry their hankies now.
In spite of which, Mercedes says that this car is really practical. Yes, tis but a two-seater, but it's a spacious one and it has a decent boot out the back. Lightweight all-aluminium construction means it's light and that gorgeous Gordon Wagener-penned body is bang up to date in terms of contemporary Mercedes design, but still has sufficient retro curvature to make sure you know it's a descendant of the glorious, original 300SL Gullwing of 1954.
OK, what about the tech? Well the V8 engine has a 'dry sump' and stores its twin turbochargers within the V, a so-called 'hot-V' setup, drawn from racing experience, which creates a very compact and heat-efficient engine. The car itself is slightly tail-heavy, with a 47:53 per cent weight split front-to-rear, while the seven-speed 7G-Tronic paddle-shift transmission lives in the rear axle.
To transfer the driver's shift commands even more directly, communication between the engine and transmission has been fundamentally revised. This means that the previous limits of shift performance and the response time have been substantially increased. The driver can individually tailor the GT to their wishes with the aid of AMG Dynamic Select. Various modes are available: "C" (Controlled Efficiency), "S" (Sport), "S+" (Sport Plus) and - entirely new - "I" (Individual). The manual "Race" drive program reserved exclusively for the GT S model optimally adjusts the shift strategy of the dual clutch transmission to the needs of racetrack usage - including faster shift speeds and a highly emotive engine noise. By pressing the "M" button, the driver can activate the manual transmission mode in any drive setting.
The GT comes as standard with a mechanical locking differential, which should ensure outstanding traction and superb safety in all driving conditions. The more focused GT S is fitted as standard with an electronically controlled locking differential, which is integrated into the compact transmission housing. The electronic function provides even more sensitive, faster control than the mechanical solution, thus pushing the limits of handling dynamics even further. Not only does it further improve the traction of the driven wheels, but also increases cornering speeds at the limit. The system operates with a variable locking effect in acceleration and on the overrun.
Suspension is by double wishbones all-round with adaptive damping and while the GT has electric power steering (lifted from the C-Class apparently) Mercedes claims that it has tweaked the system so that "the driver has a perfect feel for the vehicle thanks to the direct feedback from the road." The optional AMG Dynamic Plus pack adds active engine and gearbox mounts to minimise weight transfer, as well as improve refinement, and even gives you little yellow highlights in the instruments just to remind you you're driving something really mental.
Big 390mm brake discs (up front on the S model, the rears are 360mm or 360mm all-round on the basic GT model) do the stopping and, of course, a ceramic composite brake option is available, taking the front disc diameter to a whopping 402mm.
All that and there's the full suite of Mercedes safety and infotainment systems, including Comand for your phone and music files, traffic sign assist and even a self-parking option.
Anything else?
"With the new Mercedes-AMG GT, we are venturing out into a challenging sports car segment with its top-class competitive field. This is an incentive and motivation for us at the same time to prove to sports car enthusiasts around the world the kind of performance that AMG is capable of", says Prof Dr Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Group Research & Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.
"With the new GT we are positioning Mercedes-AMG even more aggressively than to date as a dynamic sports car brand", says Tobias Moers, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. "With its technological substance, the Mercedes-AMG GT fulfils our high aspirations with regard to driving dynamics, agility and sportiness. The new GT is the second sports car developed fully independently by Mercedes-AMG. The car is manufactured according to the motto 'Handcrafted by Racers' - which perfectly encapsulates our heritage and our spirit."