2021 Mercedes-AMG GT

• HIGHSTwin-turbo V-8 makes great power and sounds, truly showstopping styling, hugely capable and surprisingly civil.
• LOWSDriving experience isn't as intimate as the 911's, not as quick as some rivals, cabin may cause claustrophobia.
• VERDICTThe GT's robust lineup is objectively gorgeous and impressively balanced for street or track duty.

Overview

The absolutely stunning bodywork of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT will no doubt draw your eye, but it's more than just a pretty face. The low and wide GT is also an extremely capable high-performance sports car. This is Mercedes's front-engine answer to the rear-engine Porsche 911. Offered at various point points, the GT features a hand-built twin-turbo V-8. Although this AMG isn't as immersive to drive as its archrival from Porsche, it's still super athletic, and most models are surprisingly civil on streets that aren't racetrack smooth. Those who prefer a more refined grand tourer will appreciate the 523-hp GT and 550-hp GT C, and those with sportier desires will gravitate toward the 577-hp GT R and GT R Pro. Most models are available in coupe and softtop-roadster forms, but the track-focused Pro and almighty 720-hp Black Series are hardtop only.

What's New for 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT?

For 2021, AMG gives the basic GT fresh standard features, more power, and a stealth edition. With an additional 54 horsepower and 29 pound-feet of torque, the GT's engine now makes 523 ponies and 494 pound-feet. Estimated acceleration times and top speeds also increase, with a claimed 60-mph time of 3.7 seconds (two-tenths quicker than before) and a top speed of 194 mph for the coupe and 193 mph for the roadster. Both body styles now come standard with a lithium-ion starter battery, a Race drive mode, the AMG Ride Control sport suspension with adaptive dampers, an electronic limited-slip rear differential, and a braking system with iron rotors and red-painted aluminum calipers. The Stealth Edition gives the GT a sinister look, with blacked-out elements on the inside and outside of the car.

         Pricing and which one to buy

 Given its power bump and expanded feature content, the regular GT should do the trick. The coupe costs significantly less than the roadster, but we prefer the pageantry and open-air experience that comes with the droptop. We'd select a set of the 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels for the look and enhance the GT's luxury by choosing one of the nappa-leather options for the cabin. Lastly, to help us fully appreciate our six-figure investment, we'd spec the ventilated front seats, passive hands-free entry, and 10-speaker Burmester sound system.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Every Mercedes-AMG GT has a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, but depending on which model you select, the hand-built engine will deliver a different output level. It produces 523 horsepower on the base GT, which comes standard with adaptive dampers and a limited-slip rear differential. Mercedes hasn't detailed any changes to the 2021 GT C and GT R engines, but in the previous model year, they made 550 and 577 horsepower, respectively. The last GT C roadster we tested was brutally quick, and with the top down, it allowed us to fully appreciate the sound of AMG's snarling exhaust note. We've also driven the even sportier GT R roadster and GT R pro Coupe. The former isn't quite as quick as some mid-engine rivals, but we still appreciate its surprisingly civil ride. The Pro is perhaps a little too hardcore for daily driving duties, but its myriad enhancements over the R make it quicker and more entertaining to drive at the racetrack. The new Black Series takes up the mantle as the ultimate GT coupe: It's essentially a street-legal race car. Along with using more lightweight materials and a host of track-focused modifications, it features a flat-plane-crank version of AMG's twin-turbo V-8 and makes a whopping 720 horsepower.