One Week Drive: AMG GTS

"Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom" (will-alib)
05/10/2016 at 23:02 • Filed to: AMG GTS, Will Alibrandi

This is not your father’s Mercedes. Unless of course your father is a well-heeled fan of horrifically fast GTs that you can daily drive. The truth is, this is as far removed from most peoples’ impression of what a Mercedes is as to need a separate nameplate. Almost. While it follows the long hood, short deck template of its predecessor AMG SLS, the GTS has a more organic look to the greenhouse, and ditches the former’s gullwing doors and fixed spoiler for conventional doors and a speed-activated spoiler.

The heart of any AMG is its hand-assembled motor, and here the GTS does not disappoint. In this case, a 4.0 liter twin-turbocharged V8 rated at 503hp and 479lb-ft motivates the 3,700lb auto with gusto. Understatement intentional - 0-60 happens in 3.7 seconds, assisted by launch control. That time puts the car in pretty rare company, and provides a real shove into the seatback. The soundtrack is subdued with a muted baritone, unless the electronic exhaust cutout mode is engaged then it’s punctuated with a raspy burble that will turn pedestrians’ heads and scare little dogs. To some it might seem out of character for a Mercedes, but as a fast GT car it somehow all works.

The cockpit is cozy with the wide transmission tunnel a holdover from the SLS. The seats’ bolsters aren’t imposing and do an admirable job keeping one’s posterior in place during aggressive cornering, but their paucity of padding might make long road trips less desirable. Outward visibility is somewhat limited by thick A-pillars, a long hood and low windshield header. Focusing inside, the console contains a control for AMG’s Dynamic Select system which adapts throttle mapping, gear changes, suspension setup, and exhaust sound for three different modes - Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus. A fourth mode for Individual allows a separate mode to be created. Other console buttons control these features individually.

Mundane details aside, this is a car that will happily idle around town without complaint, but the moment you hit the on ramp and put your foot into it the acceleration is explosive. Its 7-speed dual-clutch trans is faultless as it rips off shift after shift while the sound from the 4-liter is goosebump-inducing with the exhaust in sport mode. You might find yourself looking for tunnels and overpasses to drive through just to hear that sound reverberate off the walls. (Not that I’d know about that, mind you) In aggressive maneuvering body roll is virtually nonexistent and the car feels very composed due to the huge amount of grip. You’d probably need to track the car to get near its limits. That said, those big tires do generate a bit of road noise at speed, and combined with the exhaust note (even on the quieter setting) leaves no question about its sporting nature. The fix? Turn up that $4,500 Burmester surround audio system and plug in a CD of Wagner’s Die Walkure. I can’t think of a more fitting soundtrack for a German muscle car.

Photos: Alan Wilzig

DISCUSSION (17)

190octane > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
06/02/2016 at 10:08

No gull wings, no want.

Milky > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
06/02/2016 at 10:16

Not to be that guy (but clearly I am) the SLS had a speed activated spoiler too.

Kinja'd!!!

cough they used Chrysler parts cough

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
06/02/2016 at 10:18

Do you even RACE mode, bro?

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Milky
06/02/2016 at 10:19

Many of the photos I found of the SLS had a fixed spoiler, but a quick search showed a bunch with the retractable one. Guess I’ll have to make a quick edit. Thanks.

edit: Kinja is being a PITA today and won't let me make changes.

DrScientist > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
06/02/2016 at 10:20

without the gullwings and more subdued styling, this is not nearly as in-you-face as the sls.

they’ll sell a lot more.

way2blu does a rev update > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
06/02/2016 at 10:24

Sounds like the best parts of this car (like many AMGs) are the noisy bits. With the dilution of the AMG brand as of late it’s nice to see they still know what they’re doing when at their best! Great review.

Also I’ve always thought Wagner’s Lohengrin, Prelude to 3rd Act is more descriptive of how I feel driving a German performance car:

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > DrScientist
06/02/2016 at 10:25

The GTS is a lot less money too.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/02/2016 at 10:26

Aye. Played with all the modes during the course of a week.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > way2blu does a rev update
06/02/2016 at 10:31

Thanks. I’m partial to Die Walkure because I was a low brass player many moons ago, and that piece still gives me goosebumps. Also, it was in the assault scene in Apocalypse Now.

Milky > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
06/02/2016 at 10:32

Yea its not a big deal obviously but its the internet and someone in the comment section has to point out something wrong :)

way2blu does a rev update > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
06/02/2016 at 10:37

I’m not sure if the Lohengrin prelude has been as widely played as Die Walkure, I only discovered it on a Wagner CD with some overtures and ended up liking it.

Die Walkure certainly is appropriate for driving fast cars:

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Milky
06/02/2016 at 10:40

LoL. It's the way things are. At least most commenters here are cool about pointing out errors, which I appreciate.

gawdzillla > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
06/02/2016 at 11:08

no gullwing no care

bring back the SLS AMG

Matthew Keyser > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
07/04/2016 at 01:48

Are these press cars? Where do you work!?

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Matthew Keyser
07/04/2016 at 13:51

Yes they are; I post my reviews here and on my Examiner page. Trying to find another outlet online currently.

Matthew Keyser > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
07/04/2016 at 17:27

How does one acquire press cars if you’re not with a large publication? I’ve always wondered how that worked.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Matthew Keyser
07/05/2016 at 11:57

Most mfrs have a grassroots media program. I started with Examiner 5 years ago and got my foot in the door; since then I've expanded and built relationships. I don't have access to all though; some mfrs have small media fleets and turn down many requests.