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Finally liberated from secrecy, the 2016 Mercedes AMG GT steps into the light

Andrew Hard
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No more teasers, no more camo, and no more waiting. The 2016 Mercedes AMG GT is here.

After months of merciless anticipation, we finally have the glorious, tire-shredding details of Mercedes’ newest sports car, so let us bask in them.

The first thing you’ll notice about the AMG is the ‘new’ look. The AMG GT definitely seems smoother and more refined than its predecessor, but Mercedes hasn’t exactly gone back to the drawing board with it either.

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Outside of new headlights and rounder front vents, the GT’s face is almost identical to that of the SLS AMG GT that ran from 2010 to 2014. Venture past the side mirrors, though, and things start to get interesting.

The bubbly cabin and fastback lines are reminiscent of the Dodge Viper, and the rear side profile is pure Porsche 911. From the back, though, the car looks very bold and flat, with wide taillights serving as reflections for the monstrous tires below.

2016 Mercedes AMG GT
Image used with permission by copyright holder

It’s going to need every inch of that 255/35 R 19 rubber, especially with a 503-horsepower, 4.0-liter biturbo AMG V8 under the hood. By the way, if there is a more salivating combination of words in the English language than “4.0-liter biturbo AMG V8,” I don’t know it.

Related: First Drive: 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series

According to previous reports, the AMG GT will weigh less than 3,527 pounds, and Mercedes has confirmed the car will feature a spaceframe that is 90 percent aluminum. The bodyshell comes in at a scant 509 lbs as well, allowing the 503-hp GT S to hit 60 mph in 3.7 seconds.

That’s actually a tad slower than the SLS AMG GT, which could accomplish the same feat in 3.6 seconds, but this car’s advancements were designed with the racetrack in mind.

The long-nosed GT has near perfect 47:53 weight distribution, and the M178 V8’s dry sump lubrication system was designed specifically with a low center of gravity in mind.

This car was born for the circuit. That’s where the motorsport-derived double wishbone suspension will keep you centered, and that’s where the seven-speed dual clutch will keep you in control. That’s where the ceramic compound brake system will keep you in line, and that’s where the rear-axle locking differential will keep you on the road, hopefully.

The 503-hp GT S will debut in the U.S. market first, with first deliveries scheduled for spring 2015. A cheaper, 456-hp GT version will arrive the following year.

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Andrew Hard
Andrew Hard
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
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