Internally referred to as 190 series, the original GT rolled out in 2014 for the 2015 model year in two flavors. The lesser belts out 462 ps and 600 Nm, which means 456 horsepower and 443 pound-feet.
Not bad for a nearly 10-year-old sports grand tourer, but it’s not exactly impressive given the hand-built V8 hiding under the hood. The folks at Mercedes-AMG call it M178, and the first-generation GT was the only application of this 4.0-liter mill. The second gen uses the M177, which is a wet-sump design as opposed to the 190’s dry-sump lubrication system.
Pictured in black on a runway in Germany, the entry-level spec of the first-gen GT is joined by a Porsche 911 Carrera GTS. Once again, we’re dealing with a twin-turbo lump rather than a naturally-aspirated tower of power. The flat-six engine packs a big punch for its 3.0-liter displacement, namely 480 ps and 570 Nm of torque (that means 473 horsepower and 420 pound-feet).
It should be noted the GT develops maximum power earlier (6,000 versus 6,500 revolutions per minute) and peak torque over a broader engine speed range (1,600 to 5,000 revolutions per minute compared to 2,300 to 5,000 revolutions per minute). There also is quite a difference in terms of curb weight.
The official numbers are 1,545 and 1,615 kilograms, which is just around 3,400 and 3,560 pounds in the imperial system. The white-painted 911 Carrera GTS in the video below does have a slight advantage, though, because a considerable amount of weight hangs over the rear axle. In other words, the Porker accelerates somewhat better from a dig.
Photo: KaRace on YouTube
How much better? 3.8 seconds to 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) versus 3.9 in the first race, and 3.6 seconds compared to 3.8 in the second run. As far as quarter-mile times are concerned, the 911 Carrera GTS doesn’t fail to assert dominance over the V8-powered brute with Affalterbach know-how, topping a respectable 11.35 versus 11.39 seconds.
Originally based on a dedicated platform, the GT morphed from a two-seat design to a 2+2 sports tourer for the 192 series. Now twinned with the SL, the GT is heavier than ever before due to the adoption of 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive for the V8-powered 55 and 63 versions. The SL 43 comes with rear-wheel drive, and – shockingly enough – a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder lump assembled by AMG.
Tipping the scales at 1,970 kilograms (4,343 pounds), the 2024 model year Mercedes-AMG GT is rather chubby. If the driving experience interests you more than outright performance figures, look no further than Porsche’s long-running Neunelfer.
Also available with all-wheel drive, the 911 comes in plenty of versions to suit everyone’s taste in sports cars. You want a manual with a twin-turbo boxer? Consider it done! A naturally-aspirated boxer with a stick shift? Porsche can do that as well! The 911 further challenges the very best of the supercar genre with the Turbo S, which requires 2.6 seconds from zero to 60 miles per hour (97 kph).
Not long now, the 992 series will receive a bit of hybrid assistance to improve both fuel economy figures and overall performance. Mercedes-AMG isn’t sitting idly either, for the GT is going plug-in hybrid next year. The range-topping specification is expected to belt out a combined 831 horsepower.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News