It seems that the first facelift for the
Mercedes-AMG GT will bring more than just subtle design upgrades and a new
hardcore model. Sure, there might be some interior tweaks, as well as new equipment,
but the most important addition could be a new powertrain, as these new spy
shots taken at a Mercedes test facility reveal an AMG GT prototype with a very
interesting rear end.
More specifically, it’s the first Mercedes-AMG GT
ever spotted with round double exhausts, indicating that the folks from
Affalterbach are testing a new engine for AMG’s standalone sports car.
You may recall that the AMG GT 4-Door is
available with a turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six and an electric motor.
Mercedes might make that hybrid powertrain available on the two-door model as
well. Coincidence or not, the GT 53 4-Door has quad round exhausts just like
those fitted to the white coupe prototype in these photos.
In the Mercedes-AMG GT 53 4-Door, the system
delivers 429 hp. That allows for a 0-100 km/h sprint of 4.5
seconds and a 285 km/h top speed. Expect AMG’s engine wizards to
tweak the powertrain further for the AMG GT. A gain of 50 horsepower for a
total output of around 480 hp would be a safe bet.
That would be approximately the same power output
the current “entry-level” AMG GT offers from its twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8
engine. Consequently, the new AMG GT 53 will most likely replace the base V8
version, although eight-cylinder engines will continue to be available at the
top of the range.
