As part of its 50th anniversary Mercedes-AMG unveils the 2018 GT Concept, a four-door coupé will debut this week in Geneva. The third model series after the SLS AMG and AMG GT is now being completely autonomously developed at the company’s headquarters in Affalterbach. The designation and fundamental design elements on the front and tail end denote the family affiliation to the AMG GT. The “EQ Power+” identifier on the mirror cam indicates the increased performance that can be expected from hybridisation at AMG.
The four-door sports car from Affalterbach will seamlessly continue the success story of the AMG GT. The dynamic fastback will also be highly suitable for everyday use thanks to the large tailgate and the variable interior and luggage compartment. The new coupé thus blends the high functionality of the performance cars with the sportiness of the AMG GT sports cars. The show car gives a sneak preview of the exterior design of the coming series production model.
With the aid of the unmistakeable design idiom with a deeply drawn bonnet and powerfully raked windscreen, the AMG GT Concept is recognisable at first glance as a genuine AMG GT. The exterior design stands out with extremely muscular proportions, a large volume plus sensuous and simultaneously reduced surface styling. The concept car represents the design philosophy of Sensual Purity and lends it the added performance characteristic of AMG.
The Panamericana grille with vertical ribs painted red on the sides, the new configuration of the extremely slim main headlamps and the side air gills with their dominant design in the front apron are hallmark AMG GT design characteristics which have been advanced to a new level here and express pure power. The bonnet reaching right to the wheel arches underscores the decidedly sports car genes together with the two powerdomes. This is also expressed in the extravagant paintwork in the colour shade hot red with a finish that shimmers in the light like liquid metal thanks to a special formulation.
The width-biased rear assembly also cites the unmistakeable AMG GT look with the extremely slim horizontal tail lamps and the shape of the tailgate. Further design elements at the tail end are the wide carbon-fibre diffuser curved downwards at the sides and the centrally arranged tailpipe trim reminiscent of the Mercedes-AMG GT R.
The function of the exterior mirrors on the study is taken care of by aerodynamically favourable miniature cameras, known as mirror cams. The roof, the A‑wing of the front spoilers, the rear diffuser and the side sill panels in high-quality yet light carbon fibre make the connection with motorsport.
The very expressively styled wheels in a fine-spoke design allow a good view of the AMG ceramic high-performance compound brake. The brake callipers are painted in a bronze colour and bear the “AMG Carbon Ceramic” lettering.
After the Formula 1 vehicle, the show car is the second AMG model to bear the new designation “EQ Power+”, which all performance hybrids from Mercedes-AMG will be given in future.
The performance hybrid system combines the powerful 4.0‑litre V8 biturbo engine with an additional powerful electric machine and thus ensures extremely immediate response and offers an extraordinarily high system performance. The sprint from 0‑62 mph can be mastered at a super sports car level by the AMG GT Concept in less than three seconds.
all images © Daimler AG