Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe

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Iron Fist in a Velvet Glove
Many car aficionados think of Porsche when they consider an able sports car for the occasional track day. Perhaps they haven't had a chance to get in the cockpit of the Mercedes-AMG GT. This two-door coupe is absolutely stunning, from its long and low hood to its throaty V8 exhaust, it exudes class, style, and power. What more could you possibly want, caped crusader?

Originally debuted at the Paris Motor Show in 2014, the GT was developed in-house at Mercedes-AMG and a race-ready version was available in 2015. It has gone through several revisions since including the more spendy Black Line known as the Dark Night. See? We told you Batman was somehow involved with this road warrior. It puts out 730 horsepower and can blast you from zero to 60 mph in a spleen-grabbing 3.2 seconds! If you buy this car to show up at the golf club or ballet in extreme style, the base model 523-horsepower GT or 550-horse GT C makes the perfect statement. But for those with an eye more focused on performance, there's the 577-hp GT R and GT R Pro. While most models are available as a convertible roadster, the Pro and the mighty 720-horsepower Black Series as well as the new 2023 Track Series are only available as hardtop coupes.

Under the Hood

Unlike a Porsche 911, the big engine in the GT is right up front. You'll find a hand-built, twin-turbocharged 4-liter V8 and seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. The base GT's 523 horsepower unit comes with adaptive dampers and a limited-slip differential. The higher-tier versions are tuned to make more power. While all versions of the GT are plenty quick, the Pro and Black Line variants make brutal horsepower and may be too much for the street. It all depends on which level of muscle you're comfortable with. The Black Line and new Track Line are racetrack ready. They use a lot of carbon fiber to reduce weight and feature a flat-plane-crank version of the V8 to produce over 700 fiery horses.
While absolutely no one buys one of these GT models for their fuel efficiency, the folks at AMG managed an EPA-rated 16 miles per gallon in the city and 22 mpg on the highway in base trim. Naturally, more performance means more gas guzzling, so the GT C variant comes in at 15 city and 21 highway. As for the Black Series and Track Series? Forget about it. When you put your foot down on the accelerator, you can practically watch the gas gauge move.

On the Road

The feeling of precision extends to every aspect of the GT no matter which trim level you choose. It simply becomes ever-more lethal as you go up the ladder toward race car perfection. The new 2023 Track Series takes the Black Series to its ultimate conclusion as a World Challenge GT car. The dry-sump, flat-plane-crank twin-turbo 4-liter V8 includes motorsport-spec fuel injectors and engine mapping to boost its horsepower to 724 horsepower and 627-pound feet of torque. The six-speed sequential-shift Hewland transaxle transmission is the same as used in the GT3 and GT4 race cars.
While the Black Series is shod in 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels sporting Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R rubber, the Track Series features 18-inch forged wheels front and back so you can use racing rubber of various calibers. Carbon-ceramic brakes come on the Black Series and the Track version is fitted with 15.4-inch front, and 14-inch rear steel rotors that are used on AMG racers.

On tight corners, this scalpel does its best work, slicing with ultimate precision. The motor growls and urges you on, adding to the pulse-pounding thrills of being behind the wheel. The car feels like it has been formed around you, or tailor fit like some bespoke Ironman suit. Sheer perfection. On the track, it seems to pivot around you, in complete control… as if it were on rails. The Mercedes-AMG GT coupe is an iron fist in a velvet glove. Acceleration makes you the marble in a slingshot. The engine gallops to 7,000 rpm in an unholy howl and braking is as miraculous as the speed it controls, hauling you back down to earth with pure authority. This car is a thrill ride. Pure and simple.
The Bottom Line
Both civil and savage as needed, the excellent Mercedes-AMG GT coupe is a showstopper in every way, supremely balanced for street or track. In base trim, this stunning car has a base MSRP of $119,650. The price rises quickly through its nine trim levels, topping out at the new Track Level at $385,000. All things considered, we'd suggest the base GT but add the Napa leather interior option and perhaps the 10-speaker Burmester sound system. But from not so mild to extremely wild, Mercedes-AMG has you covered, Mr. Wayne.