Mercedes-Benz engines always sound much better than their competitors. However, with the recent downsizing trend, even they can make a mistake here and there, after all, they're only human.
Going from a 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 in the SLS AMG to what's rumored to be a 4-liter twin-turbo downsized mill in the upcoming new AMG GT car, all could have taken a turn for the worst. They could have messed everything up with the turbos and compensated with exhaust sound coming from speakers inside the car or added to the exhaust, like some other German automakers we won't mention.
But they didn't. How do we know? Three clips released today by the company tell us just what to expect. We will admit that an SLS Black Series sounds better, but compare this to an M3's straight-six and the difference is quite obvious.
Based on the M133 four-cylinder that just went into the 45 AMG triplests, this new bi-turbo 4-liter will blanket a wide range of outputs that will ensure Porsche's 911 is thoroughly matches and surpassed. The mill will be installed in a front-mid configuration, just like on the SLS, and should deliver about 500 HP and a peak torque of 700 Nm (516 lb-ft). A Black Series model is reportedly already being planned later in the GT's life cycle.
A successor to the SLS, the new two-seater codenamed C190 is not a direct replacement. Entry prices will be significantly lower and the Merc will thus probably compete against the Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Jaguar's F-Type R. Both are special cars in their own right, but we're confident AMG will totally blow us away during this car's reveal, scheduled for late August (public debut at October’s Paris Motor Show).
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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