805HP Mercedes AMG GT Concept & 2018 Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet Premier – Video
The four-door sports car from Affalterbach will seamlessly continue the success story of the AMG GT. The dynamic fastback will be highly suitable for everyday use thanks to a large tailgate, luggage compartment and comfortable interior. The AMG GT Concept blends the high functionality of performance cars with the sportiness of AMG GT sports cars, and gives a sneak preview of the exterior design coming to the series production model.
For all the car’s style, it’s the hybrid powertrain that we find most intriguing. Wearing the same EQ Power+ branding—a nod to Benz’s nascent electrified sub-brand—as the company’s Formula 1 car, the concept uses a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 and an electric motor that is directly connected to the rear wheels. Total output is said to be 805 horsepower, and a version of 4MATIC all-wheel drive is used to ensure balanced torque distribution.
Three modes of operation are available—electric, gasoline engine, and combined—for maximum performance. Mercedes claims the control software parallels that used in the W08 AMG F1 racer; it sees the concept charge its battery pack while driving as well as under braking so maximum power will be available when it’s most needed: accelerating out of a corner. Mercedes-AMG hasn’t yet revealed technical minutiae concerning the GT concept but does say that the car can apportion torque to each wheel individually for torque vectoring. The bottom line is a claimed sub-three-second zero-to-60-mph time.
The new Cabriolet is the fifth and youngest member of Mercedes-Benz’s E‑Class family, which has been renewed entirely within the space of one year. At the same time, the brand with the star is continuing its tradition of high-calibre cabriolets with a classic fabric soft top. “The passion for extraordinary vehicles, which we share with our customers, is reflected in our new E‑Class Cabriolet in a unique way. It is a car that lets people enjoy comfort and luxury in the open air,” says Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management at Daimler AG with responsibility for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing & Sales.
When the soft top is up, the E‑Class Cabriolet has a silhouette similar to that of the E‑Class Coupé and displays the same expressive proportions. The close ties between the two models are likewise apparent in the puristic design with the emphasis on surfaces with clean lines and sensuous forms. Hot and cool in equal measure, the design idiom represents elegance and intelligence. It is what shapes the appearance of the Cabriolet, which nevertheless exudes a unique character – especially when the soft top is down.
A striking front section with a low-positioned diamond radiator grille and centrally located star, LED High Performance headlamps (or optional high-resolution MULTIBEAM LED headlamps), a drawn-out bonnet with powerdomes and fully retractable side windows underline the dynamism of the Cabriolet. The tautly-stretched soft top with window flows harmoniously into the muscular-looking rear. Its elongated, sensuously sculpted shoulders and two-piece, extremely slim LED tail lamps emphasise the sporty character of the four-seater. In addition to this, the tail lamps exude a brilliance reminiscent of the glow given off by a jet engine. As a new feature, the tail lamps also put on a special light show for the driver when they approach or leave the car.
With the roof open, the harmony between exterior and interior design becomes apparent, uniquely accentuating the high-quality details. A visual entity comprising anodised, polished aluminium (AMG Line in matt aluminium) is created by the trim frame on the A-pillar and front windscreen along with the shoulderline trim strip and a wide trim finish that surrounds the soft-top compartment. The third brake lamp with clear-lens cover is harmoniously integrated into this frame.
Suspension that is 15 millimetres lower than that of the Saloon likewise emphasises the luxuriously sporty character of the E-Class Cabriolet. The car thus demonstrates its sporty credentials even with the standard 17-inch tyres.