As the first dedicated high-performance vehicle built on the AMG Electric Architecture (AMG.EA), the upcoming Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe is a big deal for Affalterbach, marking a significant shift for the brand.
It needs to be special and convince die-hard AMG enthusiasts that it’s a proper AMG car. This is what Mercedes-Benz is trying to convey to fans in a new video that signals the completion of winter testing for AMG GT 4-Door Coupe near-production prototypes in northern Sweden.
As another development milestone is crossed off the list, the electric AMG GT 4-Door Coupe draws closer to its launch that is only a few weeks away. Mercedes-AMG touts “new level of driving dynamics,” even on snow and ice tracks, as the video featuring American actor and AMG brand ambassador Gabriel Macht shows.
The AMG EV That Sounds Like a Proper AMG
Combining fake V8 engine noises with adjustable drift settings, the bespoke electric AMG model seems like a lot of fun to drive on the ice-carved test track carved in Lapland.
The discussion about putting internal combustion engine sounds in an EV is an old one and it all comes down to personal preference. Yours truly sees it as nothing more than a marketing gimmick; if you really miss the throaty sound of a V8, why not buy a V8 AMG? There are still several models available, and the V8 is reportedly returning in the future C63 and CLE63 models.
That said, the fake engine sound pumped through the electric AMG GT 4-Door Coupe’s speakers sounds very realistic and could probably fool many people that they are really in a gas-powered AMG.
As for the drifting, the fully variable AMG Performance 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system in combination with the AMG Race Engineer central driving dynamics control system enables the individual adjustment of response, cornering and slip behavior. AMG says that this “guarantees precise handling and maximum joy of driving – perfectly tailored to personal driving style and the driving situation.”
Macht seems genuinely impressed by the electric AMG’s grip on ice and snow, and how controllable the car is on the very slippery surfaces. Obviously, testing on snow and ice allows engineers and drivers to explore a vehicle’s limits faster and more safely, which is one of the reasons all automakers subject their future models to the punishing climate of the Arctic Circle.
AMG Race Engineer Central Driving Dynamics Control System Explained
Mercedes-AMG
The video also offers a glimpse at how the AMG Race Engineer system works via three driving dynamics rotary controls labeled Response, Agility, and Traction. The Response Control dial coordinates the response of the electric motors to accelerator pedal commands, allowing for throttle modulation which is essential when drifting.
The Agility Control dial adjusts the agility around the vertical axis and thus the cornering behavior. AMG says the variable and adaptable power distribution “allows for the perception of a shorter or extended wheelbase,” creating a completely different driving behavior: from slight understeer to neutral to controlled oversteer.
Finally, the Traction Control dial—already familiar from the AMG GT R and the AMG GT Black Series—is used to control slip, influencing the intervention of traction control in nine stages. It’s worth noting that the effect of each of these dials also depends on the selected driving program, with their full potential being unleashed exclusively in “ESP off” mode.
The Most Advanced and Versatile AMG Car Yet
The AMG GT 4-Door Coupe is a technological tour de force, featuring three Yasa axial flux electric motors (two at the rear and one at the front) delivering fully variable torque distribution between the front and rear axles, and a full RWD mode with torque vectoring.
The high-performance EV inspired by the spectacular AMG GT XX concept is expected to deliver over 1,341 horsepower (1,000 kW), which will be reined in by a high-performance, hydraulic composite braking system combining front carbon-ceramic brakes with rear steel brakes. This innovative setup is said to provide a precise and modulated brake pedal feel.
Add to this the AMG Active Ride Control air suspension with semi-active roll stabilization, which is said to offer a wide spread between sportiness and comfort, and the electric AMG GT 4-Door Coupe promises to juggle top-notch dynamics with luxury car refinement at a level never before seen on an AMG car.
