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Marton Pettendy10 Apr 2015
NEWS

AMG plotting GT model explosion

Mercedes-AMG GT 'family' to be bigger than SLS line-up

When first deliveries commence Down Under in July, the new Mercedes-AMG GT will be just the first in an entire 'family' of models that will eventually dwarf the discontinued SLS AMG model range.

So said Mercedes-AMG CEO Tobias Moers at an Australian-first preview drive of the AMG GT last month, when Benz announced a $295,000 starting price for Daimler's first direct rival for the world's top-selling supercar, the Porsche 911.

That price applies to the GT S Coupe, which is powered by a 375kW/650Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 and sprints to 100km/h in 3.8 seconds, while the Edition 1 launch special ($314,900 plus on-road costs) adds a host of cosmetic and chassis additions but is mechanically almost identical.

Just 100 GTs in total are expected to arrive here this year, meaning demand could exceed supply for up to three years, despite the fact Australians will not – at least initially – be offered the entry-level GT Coupe.

If it becomes available here, expect the 340kW/600Nm GT, which hits 100km/h in a claimed four seconds, to be priced from about $250,000 – slightly higher than the 911 Carrera S.

"We also have the [standard] GT and we have to talk about that for Australia," said Moers of the base GT. "There's not a final plan for the future so regarding 2016 and beyond it's not finally decided. We will discuss it. It comes down to production capacity, volumes, orders."

Moers made it clear the GT would grow to include an entire family of models and a convertible is expected to be the next body derivative. The drop-top GT would also be available in base, S and Edition 1 guises, bringing the number of model variants to six.

Asked if a GT Roadster would be forthcoming, Moers reiterated the company line: "We will bring a family... which doesn't necessarily mean I'm confirming a convertible," he said with a grin.

Further afield, Moers said the GT line-up would become larger than that of the SLS AMG, which was produced between 2010 and 2014 and comprised coupe and roadster models, plus a plethora of limited-editions for various markets.

They included the high-output Black Series coupe, 'GT' coupe and convertible, Japan's 'Matte Black Edition' coupe/convertible, the Middle East's 'AMG Desert Gold' coupe, Europe's 'Electric Drive' limited-edition, the 'GT3 45th Anniversary Edition', the 'GT Final Edition'.

There was also the 2011 SLS E-Cell prototype, Australia's 2010 'Blackbird' concept, the Formula One safety cars and 25 versions of the SLS GT3 race car built to compete in FIA-standard sports car racing globally, including Le Mans and Bathurst.

Moers said the GT model range will be even broader than that of the SLS line-up, which ranged between about $470,000 and $640,000, because of its lower pricing.

"There's room for much more models, even more than in SLS, because the GT is at a different level than SLS, so we can expand the portfolio a little bit wider. The portfolio of GT is supposed to be wider than SLS."

Moers has previously indicated the and, though he remains cagey about when it will do so, he reiterated those comments in Australia.

"The Black name will return sooner or later. It's part of our AMG DNA as a brand, but I never mention when. For sure, obviously yes [the GT is a natural candidate for the Black Series treatment] but I never confirmed when that will happen."

A GT3 motorsport version of the GT has already been revealed and this time round will spawn a hard-core road-going, street-legal version, probably powered by AMG's naturally-aspirated 6.2-litre V8.

Asked if there was room for two distinct high-performance coupe models in the Black Series and GT3, Moers said: "From my perspective yes. What I always confirm is there will be a family of GT and for sure you can wait for a real racing street-legal car."

While the Black and GT3 coupes will bring to eight the number of GT models – not counting the expected onslaught of other limited-editions – Moers would not rule out the possibility of a "four-door GT" exclusive to AMG at the recent New York motor show, although he stressed that no such sedan could not be based on the GT's spaceframe chassis.

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