ge5395333341367768799
Bruce Newton7 Oct 2014
NEWS

AMG plans long term for GT

Just like the Porsche 911, new rival will add derivatives and evolve

The new Mercedes-AMG GT will be an ongoing multi-generational model which will eventually be sold in a variety of derivatives – in the same way as the Porsche 911 it has been developed to fight.

The initial 375kW GT S version of the 4.0-litre V8 rear-wheel drive two-door, two-seat coupe arrives in Australia in the second quarter of 2015 priced around $250,000.

But AMG global boss Tobias Moers made it clear to motoring.com.au during an interview at the Paris motor show last week where the car was formally unveiled, that the GT S would only be the starting point of an ongoing product development story.

He forecast a lifecycle of seven-eight years for the first generation GT and after that a generational replacement.

"Should be so, yes. That's my plan, for sure. That's AMG's plan and there is no disagreement with the board [of parent Mercedes-Benz]."

The 911 is legendary for its longevity, having evolved through four distinct platform generations over 51 years.

As per the 911, Moers said the GT's lifespan would be punctuated by the launch of a series of model derivatives.

"There is a few of them, there is more to come," he promised. "There is more to come in the portfolio of the GT.

"You have to take care of the lifecycle, you have different variants that you add to the lifecycle at certain points," he said. "It is lifecycle management."

A 340kW base model GT is already confirmed, while a convertible, a powered-up Black series and a GT3 racer are virtually certain. But if the 911 is the blueprint then all sorts of opportunities including all-wheel drive, a targa top, a GT3 road car and a plethora of limited edition runs could be under consideration.

Pressed on all-wheel drive for the GT drivetrain, Moers said: "Technically-wise everything is possible, but there is no plan in that platform."

The GT takes over from the $470,000 SLS gullwing as AMG's bespoke sports car flagship based on its own architecture. But that was a limited edition hypercar never intended to have a long term life in the range.

Nor was it judged mainstream enough to promote the AMG widely enough as it seeks to boost its image and sales.

"It is important that you have a certain number of cars available on the roads because if you have a hypercar done by 100 cars per year then nobody sees them and you don't achieve anything for your brand," admitted Moers.

He dismissed the GT's '911 fighter' tag as the invention of the press, but admitted entering the sports car category Porsche dominates was the challenge AMG had to take on to prove its capabilities.

"We are now in a traditional sports car segment and I know who is the masterpiece so far there," he admitted. "But the competitive set has increased there. We have a Jaguar there [F-Type], we have an Audi R8, the P13 [McLaren] is coming sooner or later in that segment. It is all about competition.

"There are a few other competitors in there, not just the 911.

"If you want to prove what a company like AMG is able to do; what the competence, knowledge and experience of the company is; when you want to show to everyone what the brand stands for because that is important for strategic growth paths in the future; that we have the brand on a certain level and a certain awareness; then you have to step in to the traditional sports car segment.

"Then you have to look for a segment where there is competition and that was very important. This was the reason we have the GT in that segment."

Share this article
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Stay up to dateBecome a carsales member and get the latest news, reviews and advice straight to your inbox.
Download the carsales app
    AppStoreDownloadGooglePlayDownload
    App Store and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.
    © CAR Group Ltd 1999-2024
    In the spirit of reconciliation we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.