With tremendous race-derived capability and timeless elegance, the GT was an AMG for grown-ups, through and through

It's hard to believe that the Mercedes AMG GT has been on sale for close to eight years now. Yup, you heard that right, Merc's flagship two-door coupe has been around since 2014. Over the years, it has taken several avatars including one of the roadster, more hardcore versions like the GT-R and AMG GT Black Series, better suited for track use.

Also, while AMG was mainly a tuner for Merc for decades, post-acquisition and coming in-house, the AMG GT was the very first car built exclusively by the folks at Afalterbach and the car received its most comprehensive makeover for the 2018 model year. So what exactly changed and why is now a good time to get into a GT? Read on to find out.

Both models are also available in a roadster body style. Under the hood, you get a racing-derived handbuilt AMG 4.0-liter Biturbo V-8, which in fact debuted with the GT several years ago now. This mill of course was part of Mercedes' strategy of engine downsizing. Gone was the 6.2 liter naturally aspirated engine that purists just couldn't get enough of and in came the BiTurbo. But thankfully, this engine is no slouch and it offered similar, if not better performance, all while consuming less gas. It is available in three different states of tune. In the base AMG GT-Coupe, the 4.0-liter BiTurbo V-8 engine produces 523 horsepower and 494 pound-feet of torque. The same engine produces 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque in the AMG GT C Coupe.

Now in an era where several EVs are pushing north of 1000 horsepower, 500 ponies don't seem like a lot. Merc's very own all-electric EQS sedan in AMG spec puts out 649 horsepower. But where the AMG GT still continues to have an edge over electric vehicles is its lightweight construction. Where an EV weighs somewhere in the region of 5,000 pounds, the AMG GT tips the scales at 3,666 pounds. In fact, the space frame made up of a combination of high-strength aluminum, magnesium, and advanced polymers only weighs 514 pounds. The result? 60 MPH comes up in as low as 3.6 seconds and the top speed is as high as 196 mph.

Also unlike a traditional V-8, where the turbos live outside the cylinder bank, in this particular instance, they're buried deep within the V of the cylinder banks. With dry sump lubrication, what this means is minimal lag to spool them up and you get instant thrust when you mash the gas pedal. Also, as you can see from the shot above, the AMG GT offers a fantastic weight balance (47:53), because of the bulk of the mass with the engine and gearbox behind the front axle. Power goes exclusively to the rear wheels via a heavy-duty carbon-fiber prop shaft and a 7-Speed dual-clutch gearbox with rev-matching, that sends power exclusively to the rear wheels. The AMG GT C also offers a more aggressive chassis profile along with rear-wheel steering.

Throw in a four-wheel double-wishbone suspension setup along with an electronic limited-slip differential and in Race mode, you can devour corners on a race track all day long. When you're done having fun on the track, you can change the character of the car immediately with the 3-stage AMG ride control. Switch to comfort mode and the AMG GT transforms from a raucous hardcore track monster to a gentle cruiser in which you can happily gobble up the miles. You see that's the beauty of cars like the AMG GT which works beautifully on the track as well as on the road. GT after all stands for Grand Touring or Gran Turismo if you're Italian, and that is something that this two-door coupe should have no trouble doing.

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What do the Mercedes-Benz SLS, the AMG GT, and the recently launched AMG-SL have in common? Englishman - Mark Fetherston was responsible for the design of all three models. As a result, you'll find an uncanny resemblance across these models, which in itself is a nod to the old 50s-era 300 SLR Gullwing. The long imposing hood, the stubby front, and rear overhangs along with a tight cockpit mean you end up with the classic proportions of a sports car. Overall, it comes as no surprise that the aesthetic and form have barely changed. It is simply timeless and will continue to look good for decades to come.

Of course, the AMG GT is a far more grown-up act as it ditched the gull-wing doors of the SLS, in place of conventional ones. The facelift brought a revised front end with the Pan American grille, new LED headlights, and taillights, along with revised bumper designs. Sure you've got some fake venting going on the side fenders, but that's just present for sake of continuity since it's been a design trait of Merc's flagship performance coupes for decades now. Thankfully, the quad-exhaust pipes, courtesy of the AMG Performance exhaust system are real and sound very rumbly indeed.

The design also beautifully integrates an electronically controlled rear spoiler, which deploys at speeds above 80 MPH. Across both models, you have a choice of nine colors, two of which are the Magno matte option. As for wheels, you can choose from six different styles. The standard wheels are 19-inches, with all optional designs coming in a 19-20-inch staggered configuration with 295 section tiers on the rear. The most expensive style is the AMG forged cross-spoke ($2,200) option.

A number of optional extras can further spruce up your AMG GT. The AMG Aerodynamics Package ($2,850) gets you a more aggressive front splitter along with a fixed rear wing. The AMG Exterior Night Package ($750) as the name suggests blacks out various trim pieces and mirrors. For a more aggressive look, exclusive to the AMG GT C Coupe, you can also opt for the AMG Exterior Carbon Fiber Package I (5,300) where the mirrors and rear diffuser come in the lightweight material. A Panoramic Rood ($1,250) or Fixed Carbon Roof ($4,250) is also available on both models.

While the exterior was a nip-and-tuck affair with this refresh, the interior saw significant upgrades in terms of the technology on offer. A new 10.25-inch infotainment screen takes center stage. Running the slick MBUX software, the unit takes care of everything from navigation to vehicle settings. While it does offer smartphone integration in the form of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, it is not the wireless kind that we've become used to these days.

You can also interact with this system using Voice commands. If you prefer a touchpad to the rotary controller, it is available at no extra cost. A lightweight four-speaker audio system comes as standard on the base AMG GT Coupe, but you can also choose one of the high-end Burmester Surround Sound Systems available ($1,300 - $4,500).

Merc has also thrown in a 12.3-inch all-digital drivers display in place of the old-school analog gauges. However, if that's something you still dig since the screen is highly configurable, you get a bunch of different designs based on the drive mode you select. Some other highlights of the interior include the colored display buttons for stuff like the suspensions settings on the center console along with even some more tiny displays for the steering-mounted drive mode selector. You also get real aluminum gear- shift paddles.

The cabin itself is a class act with top-notch materials throughout. 11 different upholstery options made up of Nappa Leather and four different contrasting finishes for the trim pieces are available. Diamond quilted seats and the optional leather seats with contrast DINAMICA stitching ($1,200) are exclusive to the AMG GT C Coupe.

AMG illuminated door sills ($700), Carbon Fiber Door sill trim ($1,200), and AMG Interior Night Package ($800) are also available. In fact, several features that are optional on the base model come as standard on the AMG GT C Coupe. Think features like:

Now you can't expect much in the name of practicality with a low-slung coupe like the GT, but the hatchback body does give you more flexibility and you get just over 10.1 cubic feet of space in the trunk, which is just about big enough to fit a couple of medium-sized carry-on bags.

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The base 2021 AMG GT Coupe starts at an MSRP of $118,600 while the AMG GT C Coupe comes in at $153,500. They exclude the $1,050 destination charges.

Build your Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe here

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The Mercedes AMG GT's nemesis from the onset was, and still is the Porsche 911. Price-wise, the base AMG GT competes head-on with a 911 Carrera 4, while the more expensive AMG GT C coupe goes up against the likes of a 911 Carrera 4 GTS. For similar money, i.e around the $150,000 mark, you could also consider something like an Audi R8 Coupe. But if you prefer the front-engined rear-wheel drive layout, then the standard Aston Martin Vantage offers it and borrows the same 4.0-liter handbuilt V-8 from the Merc. So it all comes down to preference. Also, if you're on a tight budget, the Jaguar F-Type also serves as a solid alternative under the $100,000 mark.

So to summarize, on paper at least going by the power figures, you may feel that the AMG GT with its 500-odd horsepower is at a slight disadvantage compared to your 1000-horsepower EV, but where the Merc has the edge is its lightweight body chassis and handling package. You can expect a far more visceral driving experience from behind the wheel of an AMG GT. The V8's growly burble offers a lot more character than an EV ever can. So go ahead and snag one while you still can, because, with the introduction of the SL Roadster, the AMG GT days won't be around for long as Merc has already discontinued the model over in Europe.

Khris is a classic car aficionado and adores his Jags and Alfas, although he keeps tabs on everything from super exotics like an old EB 110 to the latest from Lucid. Formula One is very close to his heart, and he diligently makes time to tune in for the Grand Prix on Sundays. Khris also loves his road trips and he prefers a stick shift over an auto any day.