2019 Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door: The More-Door AMG
AMG's very own four-door is its most powerful model yet.
The first ever AMG-fettled Mercedes-Benz was a four-door car, and in the Affalterbach tuning outfit’s early days, four-door Benzes were the exclusive recipients of its ministrations. More recently, of course, AMG has visited its special brand of magic on Mercedes models of all sizes and body configurations, from the A-class subcompact to the G-wagen SUV. But to date, the purpose-built AMG models have been two-door sports cars and roadsters. We’ve known for some time—certainly since the debut of AMG’s four-door concept car at last year’s Geneva auto show—that an AMG-exclusive four-door was in the works.
Now, it has finally been revealed. Its official name, the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door coupe, may be something of an anticlimax, but there’s plenty to get excited about here. First, though, a bit of clarification: Despite a model designation that suggests this new entry is an AMG GT coupe writ larger, the model is actually based on the E-class sedan’s MRA longitudinal-engine, rear-wheel-drive architecture. One look at it, though, and it’s clear that this is not merely a more sportified E63. The AMG GT 4-Door has its own body, with a low-slung silhouette and a steeply raked windshield. Out front, a vertical-bar grille further establishes a visual connection to AMG’s sports car. At the rear, the active trunklid spoiler adjusts its angle based on vehicle speed; on V-8 models a more extreme aerodynamics package is optional, which brings a larger front splitter, a modified rear diffuser, and a fixed rear wing that is manually adjustable.
Most Powerful AMG Yet
The car debuts in a trio of familiar model designations, and the three-engine lineup includes inline-six and V-8 offerings, all fed with forced induction. The GT53 is the opening gambit and uses the carmaker’s recently introduced turbocharged inline-six. It’s supplemented by a 48-volt electric motor (a setup first seen in the new CLS53). As in the CLS53, the 3.0-liter powertrain produces a maximum of 429 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque, with the electric motor contributing up to 21 ponies and 184 lb-ft. In combination with a nine-speed torque-converter automatic and 4Matic+ all-wheel drive, the combo is good for a 4.4-second sprint to 60 mph and a 174-mph top speed, according to AMG.
Like other AMGs wearing the “63” designation, the GT63 is powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8. It’s paired with a slightly different nine-speed automatic—this one replaces the torque converter with a multiplate clutch pack—that incorporates AMG’s Race Start function. In the 4-Door model, output is 577 horsepower and 553 lb-ft. (That matches this engine’s numbers in the wildest version of the coupe, the track-monster AMG GT R.) AMG claims the GT63 can charge to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds on its way to a top speed of 193 mph.