Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has launched the refreshed Mercedes-AMG GT C and GT R in Malaysia, the two variants will go on sale locally.
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) has officially unveiled the refreshed Mercedes-AMG GT C and Mercedes-AMG GT R variants at the Sepang International Circuit earlier today. Both models will extend the current AMG GT offerings including the GT, GT S and GT 4-door. The Mercedes-AMG GT R is priced at RM1,712,888m while the Mercedes-AMG GT C is at RM1,558,888.
“The Mercedes-AMG GT R and GT C embody the core value of our brand, “Driving Performance”, in a unique way. They are brutal, incredibly powerful and agile. At its début four years ago, it not only turned the heads of customers and sports car enthusiasts but also created new dimensions in the competitive environment. These new-generation models will deliver an incomparable thrill that our drivers experience on the road and track,” says Michael Jopp, Vice President, Sales & Marketing Passenger Cars, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia.
Exterior
The updates on both models are pretty mild; both the AMG GT C and AMG GT R gets new LED headlamp which features a tri-functional, arched light guide takes on the functions of daytime running light, navigation light and turn signals. The new headlamps also boast the multi-chamber reflector system with three single reflectors each for dipped beam and main beam. The light of the LED taillights also appears even deeper set and sportier through the dark background.
The AMG GT R’s low-slung front section and the shark nose-like radiator grille lower the vehicles’ back-pressure point, enhancing the flow of cooling air and the car’s aerodynamic performance. The two aerodynamically-shaped horizontal fins are placed to ensure that air-flow to the AMG GT R’s radiators are met.
The AMG GT R also comes with the wheel arch liners with air slits which ensure ideal airflow through the double wheel arch radiators. In order to optimise the flow properties of the wheel arches while improving the drag coefficient value, the GT R additionally features air curtains on the outside of the front fascia.
Weighing at 2kgs, the carbon fibre front splitter – hidden from sight – moves downwards by about 40 mm, consequently changing the airflow under the car while driving at 80 km/h in RACE driving mode. This enables the AMG GT R to steer with better precision especially during fast cornering and under high lateral acceleration, thus improving drag coefficient. Likewise, this reduces lift on the front axle by 50 percent at top speed.
Both the GT C and the GT R features the AirPanel active air management system, which features vertical louvres located behind the air intakes in the front apron. The louvres are electronically controlled and can be opened and closed within a second by an electric motor to improve airflow. These open to provide ventilation to cool the radiators down, and when they are closed, these direct air towards the underbody of the car.
At the rear, the GT C sports a redesigned black diffuser insert and tailpipe to match the shape of the AMG GT 4-door coupé. The AMG GT C has trapeze shaped twin tailpipe covers. Whereas, the rear design of the hotter AMG GT R keeps its distinctive shape with the large, centrally positioned tailpipe. In addition, it is flanked seamlessly by two more tailpipes on the left and right of the diffuser. The Mercedes-AMG GT R’s rear wing can be adjusted to match the individual needs of the driver.
The carbon-fibre roof, gold-painted brake callipers and prominent fixed-wing are the recognisable traits of the AMG GT R. Whereas, the AMG GT C comes with a panoramic sunroof and red-painted brake callipers. The AMG GT R is fitted with a set of AMG 5-twin-spoke forged wheels 19- and 20-inches in diameter at the front and rear respectively, and the GT C is fitted with the AMG cross-spoke forged wheels of the same staggered sizes as the GT R.
Interior
For added convenience, both the Mercedes-AMG GT R and GT C now come with a front camera as well as the PARKTRONIC park assistant and the reverse camera, which makes parking a much easier affair. Drivers will be prompted with visual and acoustic signals. Likewise, PARKTRONIC will also facilitate parking in and out of tight parking confines.
Similarly in the current C-Class models, the AMG GT R and GT C receive a fully digital instrument display with the 12.3-inch instrument cluster and the 10.25-inch multimedia display on the centre console. The instrument cluster offers an entirely new screen design with the three AMG-specific display styles – Classic, Sporty and Supersport.
For the two AMG GT models, these two get the new AMG steering wheel buttons from the GT-4 door and C 63. These consist of a round controller with an integrated display beneath the right-hand steering-wheel spoke, plus two vertically positioned colour display buttons with switches beneath the left-hand steering-wheel spoke.
Also available in the Mercedes-AMG GT R is AMG Track Pace data logger – a system that transforms COMAND and a smartphone for drivers to review their driving and analysed in detail. Using more than 80 items of vehicle-specific data such as, laps, sector times on established tracks as well as on ones that are manually configured, lateral and longitudinal acceleration, accelerator and brake pedal movements as well as steering angles assist in logging and continuously improving the performance.
For the Malaysian market, the AMG GT R Pro gets the AMG Track Package as standard. the track pack comes with a roll-over protection system, four-point safety harnesses for the driver, and a 2-kg fire extinguisher. The roll-over protection system consists of a main roll bar, a brace for mounting the harnesses, two rear braces as well as a diagonal X-brace in the rear end. The roll-over protection also further increases chassis rigidity. Likewise, it also comes with the one-piece AMG bucket seats.
Under the skin
Both the Mercedes-AMG GT R and AMG GT C comes with an (M187) 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine, however, their outputs are different than one another. The AMG GT R has an output of 585 hp and 700 Nm, which the engine is mated to an AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. This one sprint from 0 – 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds and puffs out at 318 km/h.
The Mercedes-AMG GT C, the V8 biturbo engine in this one makes 557 hp and 680 Nm of torque, allowing the sprint from 0 – 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds and this fulminating acceleration continues until the top speed of 316 km/h is reached. Performance-wise, the AMG GT C sits between the GT S and GT R.
The performance-oriented AMG GT R comes fitted are forged aluminium wishbones, steering knuckles and hub carriers in order to reduce unsprung masses, which the double-wishbone suspension keeps the wheel firmly in its position with minimal elastic movements.
To make things even more rigid are uniball spherical bearings located in the lower wishbones of the rear axle. These are significantly more wear-resistant than conventional wishbone bushings, which the GT R’s toe-in and camber do not stray under high loads. This, in turn, offers better handling precision.
The coil-over suspension combined with the AMG Ride Control makes it possible to minimise the dive and roll behaviour precisely as needed to suit the driver’s preference, road condition or type of track. While the Mercedes-AMG GT C, the suspension system also features AMG Ride Control which automatically adapts the damping on each wheel to the current handling situation, the speed and the road conditions.
Both the Mercedes-AMG GT C and GT R comes with AMG Dynamic Select, which allows an adjustment of the vehicle’s engine, transmission, suspension or steering. In addition, the integrated driving dynamics regulation expands the functions of ESP (electronic stability programme) influences the distribution of power at the rear axles and the characteristics of the steering.
This is supplemented by AMG Dynamics which optimises the lateral stability by calculating based on speed, steering angle or yaw rate from sensors in the car. Basically, the system is able to anticipate vehicle behaviour based on the driver’s actions and the data from the sensors, which makes the car feel and drive much more predictably. Mercedes-AMG says that experienced drivers receive optimum assistance without feeling patronised by the system.
The Mercedes-AMG GT variants and data at a glance:
| Model | Mercedes-AMG GT R | Mercedes-AMG GT C |
| Number of cyl./ arrangement |
V8 | V8 |
| Displacement (cc) | 3,981 | 3,982 |
| Rated output (kW/hp at rpm) |
430/585 at 6,250 | 410/557 at 6,750 |
| Rated torque (Nm at rpm) |
700/2,100 – 5,500 | 680/2,100 – 5,500 |
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h (s) |
3.6 | 3.7 |
| Top speed (km/h) | 318 | 317 |
| Recommended retail price (OTR w/o Insurance) | RM 1,712,888 | RM 1,558,888 |
