GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: AMG GT sedan concept unveiled

Mercedes-AMG has launched a high-tech intercontinental ballistic missile at the Geneva motor show in the form of the AMG GT Concept, a four-door hybrid super-sedan that's claimed to blitz to 100km/h in less than three seconds.

Quicker than countless exotic two-door super-coupes weighing and measuring significantly less, AMG calls the newest member of its GT family – joining the GT, GT S and GT C Coupe and Roadster -- a "dynamic fastback".

The first dedicated Mercedes-AMG sedan has been rumoured since well before company chief Tobias Moers refused to rule it out at the 2015 New York motor show, and this concept follows the Concept IAA that previewed it at the 2015 Frankfurt show.

While Mercedes-Benz already has a rival for the Porsche Panamera in its CLS, the AMG GT Concept clearly points to a production model that's expected to be called the GT 4 and will take direct aim at Zuffenhausen's new flagship sedan (until the all-electric Mission E sedan arrives), the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid.

Also making its world debut in Geneva this week, the electrified Panamera Turbo S combines a 404kW 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with a 100kWelectric motor to sprint to 100km/h in a claimed 3.4sec and arrives Down Under in September with a $460,100 price tag.

Similarly, the secret to the AMG GT sedan's pace is the addition of an electric motor that works in tandem with its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 to provide instant torque whether from standstill or at speed.

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Boasting 600kW, the AMG GT Concept also makes use of a clever new all-wheel drive system dubbed 4MATIC+, which was first seen in the imminent new E 63 AMG -- a vehicle that also offers a drift mode, so it'll be interesting to see if the GT sedan can get up to the same tomfoolery.

Taking advantage of a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain is nothing new -- except when the company in question is Mercedes-AMG. This concept is a preview of a production model that could become a reality within 12 months, and it will be one of many production hybrid cars from AMG.

While Mercedes-Benz's new-generation electric cars will be branded EQ, AMG's all-new flagship sedan bears 'EQ Power+' badges. It's the second vehicle to brandish them after the three-pointed star's just-revealed 2017 F1 race car.

The GT Concept's electric power, which is channelled exclusively to a rear axle via torque vectoring, is proof from one of the world's staunchest combustion engine makers – whose howling hand-made V8s and V12s are legendary – that the electric vehicle revolution is coming.

But while the car can run purely on electricity to reduce CO2 emissions in urban areas, AMG sees the electric motor as a performance augmenter more than an admission that performance cars are going soft.

Moers says the four-door GT's one-two-three combo of V8, turbocharging and electric boosting will deliver unrivalled performance in its class thanks to "intelligent networking" and "extremely powerful yet light batteries".

"This performance hybrid powertrain offers an impressive electric range and the opportunity to generate a system output of up to 600kW in its last level of development. It covers the sprint from 0-100 in less than three seconds – which corresponds to a super sports car level," he said.

At this stage the charging of the battery is achieved via regenerative braking and directly via the engine. AMG is yet to reveal the type of battery, its capacity or if it will feature plug-in charging capability, but the latter is almost certain.

The wild new 600kW GT Concept begins AMG's journey into electrification, which calls "Future Performance". It may be AMG's first hybrid, but it certainly won't be the last as the company is understood to be well into the development of its first fully-electric sports car.

"Impressive driving dynamics coupled with high efficiency, resulting from an innovative drive system and tailored to the vehicle segment in question – that is Future Performance made by AMG," he declared.

The GT Concept's design is striking, featuring a long bonnet, short front overhang and massive rear diffuser create a stylish, sporty shape similar to that of the GT coupe. The rear-end has a fair dash of Panamera about it, but the rear lighting design ties it closely with the AMG GT coupe.

The car also adopts what AMG calls "nano active fibre technology" which is realised via hyper-bright daytime running lights that can be styled any which way thanks to flexible light cords. The triangular exhaust outlets are an interesting design flourish and the roof appears to be finished in a darker material, possibly glass.

Destined for Australia
Although it's a concept at this stage, the production version of the Mercedes-AMG GT Concept will be sold in Australia once launched in Europe, but timing not yet clear.

Australia will be a key market for AMG's latest colossus, since Aussies' love of the German sports cars ranks the nation in the top five AMG markets globally.

Where will it be positioned here? "It's too early to say but most likely it'll be a great sporting alternative to the S-Class," said Mercedes-Benz Australia product communications manager Jerry Stamoulis.

Pricing for the new model is still a long way from being confirmed but Stamoulis observed the new model provides strong hints of what's to come from AMG.

"From an AMG Australia perspective, to have a vehicle like this with the type of tech we're talking about, not only is a great halo car but a great indication of where AMG's performance is going in the future," he said.

Building on the marque's motorsport know-how from F1 and GT3 racing by featuring lots of carbon-fibre bits, active aerodynamics and electrification tech, the four-door GT also wears no side mirrors – instead there are bullet-shaped cameras.

AMG says the car will feature a "variable interior and luggage compartment", hinting that it may not be a traditional 2+2 grand tourer.

The GT sedan will be the third Affalterbach-designed and developed AMG model created independently of Mercedes-Benz, including the two-door AMG GT Coupe/Roadster and the company's wild F1-powered 'Project One' hypercar, which will be revealed at the Frankfurt show this September.

"With the Mercedes-AMG GT Concept we are giving a preview of our third completely autonomously developed sports car," stated Moers. "And extending the attractive AMG GT family to include a four-door variant.

"Plus the GT Concept – like the AMG Hypercar, which we are presenting at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt – illustrates how we are defining performance of the future at AMG."

Alongside Mercedes-AMG's GT sedan Concept and four AMG 50th Anniversary specials at Geneva, Mercedes-Benz will stage the world debuts of the new E 63 S Estate, E-Class Cabriolet and the Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet.