Mercedes-AMG GT to cost almost $300K

The hottest Mercedes-Benz since the SLS AMG was discontinued last year has arrived Down Under with a higher than expected starting price of $295,000 plus on-road costs.

That's for the higher-output 'S' model, which will be the only version of the Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe available in Australia initially, apart from the 'Edition 1' launch special, which costs almost $20,000 more at $314,900 plus ORCs.

Previously, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific had suggested indicative pricing of between $250,000 and $270,000, but says that applied to the entry-level (non-S) GT model that Benz decided just weeks ago not to sell here for now.

It also says the new Mercedes-AMG is not a rival for the world's top-selling supercar, Porsche's 911, which starts at $208,600 in Australia, where the hard-core GT3 version costs $293,600 plus ORCs.

For comparative purposes, in Germany, Merc-AMG GT is priced from 115,430 Euros and the GT S costs 134,351 Euros, while the standard 911 Coupe costs 90,417 Euros, the 911 Carrera S costs 103,150 Euros, the 911 GTS costs 117,549 Euros and the 911 GT3 costs 137,303 Euros.

Of course, both the GT and 911 include more standard equipment in Australia, where the GT S comes with a number of extras that are optional in Europe, including dynamic engine mounts.

The GT's near-$300,000 sticker price hasn't stopped hundreds of well-heeled Aussie AMG fans lining up for Affalterbach's finest model – at least until convertible and hard-core Black Series and GT3 versions are released in coming years.

First Australian customer deliveries of the GT S commence in July – around the same time as the new Mercedes-AMG C 63 S sedan, which will cost just over half as much at under $155,000.

Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific won't say how many GT customers it has, nor how many cars it will receive, but motoring.com.au understands only 100 GT S vehicles will arrive this year, with a similar number allocated to Australia in subsequent years.

Given that well over 100 pre-orders were taken by last October, the GT S is likely to be sold out for up to three years.

The previous SLS AMG was a circa-$500,000 model and Mercedes had no trouble finding 120 local homes for it between 2009 and 2014.

Mercedes-AMG is expected to produce a direct successor for the SLS and/or perhaps even a million-dollar hybrid hypercar to rival the Porsche 918 Spyder and LaFerrari. Its next new models will be the GLE 63 Coupe SUV and C 63 Coupe.

As we've reported numerous times, including when we drove it at the global launch at Willow Springs, the GT debuts AMG's new direct-injection 4.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V8, which will also power the C 63 and is related to the 265kW 2.0-litre turbo four that powers the A 45 AMG.

Equipped with twin turbos located within the vee and a rear-mounted seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission as standard, in top-spec GT S form the 3982cc bent eight sends 375kW of power (at 6250rpm) and 650Nm of torque (between 1750 and 5000rpm) to the rear wheels.

AMG says that's enough to propel it to 100km/h in only 3.8 seconds on its way to a 310km/h top speed, while combined fuel consumption is listed at just 9.4L/100km and CO2 emissions at 219g/km.

For the record, the 'standard' GT offers 340kW and 600Nm, and is claimed to take two-tenths longer to hit 100km/h on its way to a 10km/h-slower top speed.

With a kerb weight of just 1540kg, the base GT is 100kg lighter than the SLS, though extra equipment in the 1570kg GT S reduces the savings to 70kg. Front/rear static weight distribution for the front-engined, rear-transaxle GT S is the same as the SLS at 47/53.

In the GT S, the AMG RIDE CONTROL damping system is electronically controlled and adjustable on the fly — individually or as part of AMG's Dynamic Select system, which also tunes the hydraulic variable-ratio steering, throttle mapping, gearbox characteristics and stability and traction control functions across four preset modes (Comfort through Sport and Sport+ to Race).

The GT S also features a Porsche 911-style dynamic engine and transmission mounting system that's new to AMG, and a new electronically-controlled clutch-style limited-slip differential.

A range of Intelligent Drive assistance systems from the latest S-Class are fitted as standard, including COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS, ADAPTIVE BRAKE, ATTENTION ASSIST, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, PRE-SAFE system, PARKTRONIC, a reversing camera, Lane Tracking package including Lane Keeping Assist and Blind Spot Assist, eight airbags and tyre pressure monitoring.

The standard brake set-up features floating alloy/cast iron 390mm front discs and 360mm rears, but AMG also offers huge 402mm/360mm carbon brake discs as an option on the GT S.

The Edition 1 comes with a black aerodynamic package comprising larger front splitter, 'flics' on the side air intakes and front wheel-arches, black trim on the side sill panels and a fixed rear wing.

There's also a carbon-fibre roof, exterior Night package with black diamond grille, black exhaust outlets, and gloss-black front wing fins, wing mirror housings and rear diffuser.

The Edition 1 rides on 10-spoke light-alloy wheels (9.0x19-inch front, 11x20-inch rear) painted in black with a high-sheen finish, wrapped in 265/35 R19 tyres at the front and 295/30 R20 tyres at the rear.

Inside, there's Black nappa leather with red contrasting top stitching, Performance seats with integral belt guide in black nappa leather/DINAMICA microfibre with red contrasting top-stitching, Interior Black Diamond package, Performance steering wheel in DINAMICA microfibre with flattened lower section, 12-o'clock marking, red contrasting top stitching, steering wheel bezel in silver chrome with "Edition 1" lettering and silver aluminium shift paddles.