Mercedes-AMG GT Concept – four-door sports car gets 815 hp; 0 to 100 km/h in ‘less than three seconds’

After some protracted teasing and scores of rumours, the Mercedes-AMG GT Concept has now arrived at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, and it comes packing some considerable heat – the 4.0 litre, twin-turbocharged petrol AMG V8 comes with a lithium-ion battery-powered boost.

In the battle of the performance four-door coupes, the GT Concept appears to have the new Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid licked in the performance stakes – the hybrid Merc’s 815 hp and sub-three second 0-100 km/h sprint time betters the 680 hp and 3.4-second 0-100 km/h of its plug-in Zuffenhausen rival – in GT Concept form, at least.

Mercedes-AMG says the GT Concept’s hybrid powertrain was developed with the engineers at Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains, and claims that the battery pack is constantly charged whilst it is driven, to always have “the full amount of electrical power available.”

The GT Concept’s hybrid powertrain is incorporated into the fully variable 4Matic+ driveline, though it drives the rear axle exclusively, while torque vectoring enables output to be apprortioned to each wheel individually. The GT Concept’s powertrain is operable in three modes: pure EV mode, petrol engine only or hybrid with both drive sources in action.

The battery is recharged via brake energy regeneration, in addition to input from the internal combustion engine once the battery’s charge level has dropped below a pre-determined threshold.

As intimated earlier, the GT Concept is the second AMG model to receive the brand’s EQ Power+ designation after the W08 F1 racer. The new badging will also represent all of Mercedes-AMG’s future performance hybrids models. The branding is located on the GT Concept’s external rear view cameras, replacing normal mirrors.

The chance to showcase new possibilities in aesthetics hasn’t been foregone, and on the illumination front Mercedes-AMG employs ‘nano-active fibre technology’ on the GT Concept’s daytime running lights, as well as on its tail lamps. A flexible light cord lends the GT Concept a three-dimensional illumination effect, while a pair of tubular rod lights serve the DRL function in addition to the LED headlamp.

Continuing along the rear end, the tail lamps employ the same technology, housed beneath the 3D lens of the rear lamp assemblies. As seen in earlier leaked images, the wide, pronounced carbon-fibre diffuser and centrally-mounted exhaust outlet builds upon the GT range’s visual identity, specifically from the GT R.

The motorsport connection is further made with application of carbon-fibre exterior components on its roof, front spoilers, rear diffuser and side sill panels. Stopping power for the GT Concept comes courtesy of an AMG-branded carbon-ceramic brake system, with calipers painted in bronze.

As a technology demonstrator concept cars so often take the role of, the GT Concept is the first of Daimler products to employ a modular battery pack that is scalable to suit specific applications, says Mercedes-AMG. With the GT Concept also being just the second EQ Power+ product, it can be taken as read that eletrification will feature in the company’s future products as a performance enhancer.

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