Mercedes-AMG GT 53: Sports Car Tests Inline-6 Hybrid Engine at Nurburgring

Six-cylinder Mercedes sports cars used to be a thing, so we're actually surprised it's taking this long for the AMG GT 53 to be developed. We don't yet know if that's the actual name of the model, but you can clearly hear the sound of an inline-6 in this latest Nurburgring spy video.

It's less than inspiring, but the technology could be just what some customers want. Besides being an all-new architecture that replaces the old V6, this new inline engine is also fitted with the EQ Boost hybrid technology. Mercedes goes as far as to say the system “guarantees immediate high torque when driving off and accelerating, bridging the time before the large exhaust turbocharger cuts in.”

A small electric motor provides about 20 horsepower and a lot of torque, which can be used to smooth out the acceleration or reduce fuel consumption. Total system output should be 435 HP and 520 Nm (383 lb-ft). The hybrid tech also adds a lot of weight, so the 0 to 100 km/h sprint time will be around 4.5 seconds, which still isn't that bad.

The same powertrain made its debut in the CLS 53 and has been installed in many other cars since, such as the E53, the recently revealed GLE 53 and even the AMG GT 4-door which isn't related to this coupe.

The GT model itself launched in 2015 and was recently refreshed, so it will probably be replaced in three more years. Thus, the hybrid six-cylinder can be seen as a retirement plan, but downsizing and hybridization aren't that rare in the sports car world right now.

For example, Jaguar's similar-looking F-Type went as low as a 2-liter turbo with 300 horsepower and should migrate to an Ingenium inline-6 making 400 HP once the V8 become obsolete. Meanwhile, the Porsche 911 famously dropped its displacement down to a 3-liter.