Yahoo Autos 2016 Mercedes-Benz GT AMG Spy Photos
What It Is: The forthcoming Mercedes-Benz GT AMG, code-named C190 and somewhat previewed by the Vision Gran Turismo concept, is an evolution of the instant-classic SLS AMG. While we mourn the loss of the SLS’s unique gullwing doors—an homage to the legendary 300SL—we think the GT will be better looking overall than the car it will spiritually replace. It will be a bit more compact, and its use of a rear quarter windows will provide a cleaner, more elegant appearance. The classic, somewhat-upright windshield of Mercedes halo cars will remain almost untouched, and the LED headlights will feature Benz's trademark "torch" motif.
Why It Matters: The GT will be the SLS’s equal in its capacity as a sports car, but it should be much more attainable. While the SLS played in a higher price bracket, Tobias Moers’s crew in Affalterbach has been charged with creating a more affordable sports car that can increase the sub-brand’s volume. Sales of the SLS have dipped since word got out that there would be a successor, so it’s important that Mercedes gets the GT in the public’s eye sooner rather than later..
Platform: The GT will ride on an evolution of the SLS’s architecture, meaning a significant amount of its body and structure will be made from aluminum and high-strength steel. (All the more important in reaching AMG’s target weight of 3300 pounds.) Just as it is in the SLS, the engine will be mounted aft of the front wheels.
Powertrains: Power will come from AMG’s 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8, an engine that is still under development and which will be fitted in several new AMG models, including the next C63. Output likely will surpass 500 horsepower, and will be routed to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The GT will be a prime candidate for the Black Series treatment, albeit not for at least a couple of years after launch. In that model, engine-management tweaks that would push horsepower past 600.
Competition: Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Audi R8, Jaguar F-type R coupe, Porsche 911 Turbo.
Estimated Arrival and Price: The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GT AMG will make its debut this summer, likely arriving on American showroom floors a year later. While it’s important for Benz that the GT be more affordable than the SLS, that’s in relative terms and you shouldn’t expect a base price lower than $120,000.
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