The red and black interior befits the sporting intentions of the Mercedes-AMG GT coupe. / Staff Photo by Mark KennedyDriving a Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe is a little like randomly arriving at work in a party hat – you’d better be ready to answer questions.
For a six-figure sum Mercedes-Benz will be happy to supply you with an AMG GT Coupe that will change your life. Instantly, you will find yourself to be the center of attention.
Strangers will call out:
“Pretty car!”
FAST FACTS
* Model: Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe * Exterior color: Iridium Silver * Interior color: Red and Black * Engine: 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V-8 * Horsepower: 456 * Transmission: Seven-speed automatic * Fuel economy: 21 mpg combined * Local Dealer: Mercedes-Benz at Long of Chattanooga, 6039 International Drive * Price (as tested): Base $115,900
“Is that really a Mercedes?”
You can watch people on the sidewalk pirouette 180 degrees as you pass by in this gorgeous, two-seat sports car.
The Mercedes-AMG GT coupe is one of the sexiest cars on the road. / Staff Photo by Mark KennedyThe only car I’ve ever driven that got this many looks was a Jaguar F-Type. In my mind, the jury is still out on which one of the two – the M-B or the Jag – is the most eye-catching. Meanwhile, the Porsche 911 is no longer the default sports car for drivers with means.
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But the AMG GT Coupe is also more than just a pretty face, it’s also a full-on sports car capable of a 0-60 mph time of less than four seconds. Built by the performance division of Mercedes-Benz the AMG GT Coupe is the evolution of the Mercedes-Benz SLS.
Both light-weight and powerful, the AMG GT Coupe features a swept design with an improbably long hood and rearward cabin that telegraphs speed. Side badges announce that the AMG GT Coupe is powered by a twin-turbocharged V-8 engine that makes at least 456 horsepower – sometimes more depending on the tuning.
WHAT IS IT?
A two-seat sports car with performance chops that competes with the likes of the Porsche 911. New for 2019 is a four-door version.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
At base, the AMG GT Coupe starts at $115,900 and goes up – sometimes prodigiously – from there.
More Info
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WHAT WE LIKED
The head-turning styling, the cool red and black hand-stitched upholstery, the growling exhaust, and the bottomless power of the twin-turbo engine. The AMG GT Coupe also handles like a dream, owing to its superb weight distribution and light-weight (514 pound) subframe.
LITTLE FLAWS
It’s not really a flaw, but if you are old and brittle, like me, you might have a little trouble getting in and out of such a low-slung automobile. A solution would be to just live inside the coupe, as it costs about as much as a starter home.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
Let’s just say the AMG GT Coupe had no trouble climbing the W Road. The 14-inch disc brakes made coming down the mountain feel safe and secure, too. The AMG GT has driving mode settings that range from Comfort to Sport-plus. In Comfort mode it’s a sensational boulevard cruiser.
BOTTOM LINE
The Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe’s bottom line is its bottom line. Either you can afford it or you can’t. If you can write the check, it’s a fabulous ride. If you can’t, you can at least tip your hat to the Mercedes-AMG crew who birthed this magnificent beast.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/mkennedycolumnist.