Mercedes-AMG GT (C190)
The Mercedes-AMG GT (C190 for the coupe, R190 for the roadster) is the first generation of the Mercedes-AMG GT, a two-door sports car made by Mercedes-AMG from 2014 to 2022. First revealed on September 9, 2014, it was officially shown to the public at the Paris Motor Show in October that year. It is the second sports car designed and built entirely in-house by Mercedes-AMG, following the SLS AMG. All versions were assembled at the Mercedes-Benz factory in Sindelfingen, Germany.
The car went on sale in March 2015 in two versions: the base GT and the more powerful GT S. Over the following years, Mercedes-AMG expanded the lineup with several additional variants, including the GT C, the track-focused GT R, and the extreme GT Black Series. In October 2021, Mercedes-Benz announced that the R232 SL-Class would replace the roadster version of the GT. The fully redesigned second-generation coupe, the C192, arrived in 2023.
1 Design✎
The exterior of the AMG GT drew heavily from the design of its predecessor, the SLS AMG. It kept the wide wheel arches, low bodywork, and fastback sloping roofline, but ditched the SLS's iconic gullwing doors in favor of conventional forward-opening ones. The gullwing doors had been a signature feature since the classic Mercedes-Benz 300 SL of the 1950s, but the AMG GT took a more practical approach. The car was built on an upgraded and shortened version of the Transaxle Spaceframe platform that the SLS used.
The vehicle's structure is made up of 93% aluminum, with the front module base constructed from magnesium, making the car both light and rigid. The exterior was led by designer Mark Fetherston, who had previously worked on the W176 A-Class, the CLA-Class, and the SLS AMG. The interior, designed by Jan Kaul, features a large center console and decorative elements in leather and carbon polymer. The trunk is relatively small, offering room for about one medium-sized suitcase.
2 Engine and drivetrain✎
The first-generation AMG GT uses a front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, meaning the engine sits behind the front axle but ahead of the driver. This placement helps balance the car's weight for better handling. The spaceframe chassis and body panels are made from aluminum alloys, while the trunk lid is steel and the hood is magnesium.
At the heart of the car is a 4.0-liter M178 twin-turbocharged V8 engine. This engine uses a clever "hot inside V" configuration, where the exhaust manifolds and turbochargers are placed between the cylinder banks rather than on the outside. This design shortens the path exhaust gases travel to reach the turbochargers, which reduces turbo lag (the brief delay before the turbo kicks in). The engine also uses dry-sump lubrication, which keeps the oil in a separate tank rather than in a pan at the bottom of the engine. This allows the engine to be mounted lower in the car, improving handling.
Power goes to the rear wheels through a seven-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT dual-clutch transmission mounted at the rear axle, a layout known as a transaxle. Placing the gearbox at the back further improves the car's front-to-rear weight balance. The suspension uses double wishbones at both the front and rear, with forged aluminum components.
Car and Driver measured the GT S at 3.0 seconds from 0 to 97 km/h (60 mph), an 11.2-second quarter mile, and a top speed of 311 km/h (193 mph).
3 2017 facelift✎
In 2017, the AMG GT family received a mid-cycle refresh. The M178 engine gained about 10 kW in the GT and 9 kW in the GT S. All variants also adopted the "Panamericana" front grille as standard, its vertical chrome slats inspired by the classic 300 SL race car. This grille had originally been exclusive to the GT R and the GT3 race car. The facelift also introduced the GT C variant and the limited-edition Edition 50 model.
4 Variants✎
4.1 AMG GT✎
The base GT is the entry-level model of the family. Its M178 engine produces 340 kW (462 PS / 456 hp) and 601 N·m (443 lb·ft) of torque. Compared to the more expensive models, the GT uses a mechanical (rather than electronic) limited-slip differential. It also lacks the "Race Mode" and "Race Start" settings in the AMG Dynamic Select system and comes without the adaptive AMG Ride Control suspension. It uses 19-inch wheels at both front and rear. In the United States, the base GT arrived for the 2017 model year at a starting price of $111,200, well below the GT S.
4.2 AMG GT S✎
The GT S is the next step up. Its engine is tuned to 375 kW (510 PS / 503 hp) and 651 N·m (480 lb·ft) of torque. It adds an electronically controlled limited-slip differential, "Race Mode" and "Race Start" settings, the AMG Ride Control adaptive suspension, an AMG Performance Exhaust System with dynamic flaps, and a lithium-ion battery. It also gets staggered wheels — 19-inch at the front and 20-inch at the rear.
At launch, Mercedes-AMG also offered a limited "Edition 1" version of the GT S, with 375 examples sold worldwide. It featured a gloss black aerodynamic package, a carbon fiber roof, a fixed rear wing, red interior accents, and red brake calipers.
4.3 AMG GT C✎
The GT C sits between the GT S and the GT R in the lineup. Its engine produces 410 kW (557 PS / 550 hp) and 681 N·m (502 lb·ft) of torque. Beyond the GT S's features, the GT C adds a wider body measuring 2,007 mm (79 inches) across and active rear-axle steering. The rear steering makes the car more agile in corners and more stable at high speeds.
A limited "Edition 50" model was released alongside the GT C at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show to celebrate AMG's 50th anniversary. It came in special matte paint colors and featured unique interior trim with "Edition 50" and "1 of 500" lettering. Globally, only 500 units were made.
4.4 AMG GT R✎
The GT R is the high-performance variant, introduced at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on June 24, 2016. Its M178 engine produces 430 kW (585 PS / 577 hp) at 6,250 rpm and 700 N·m (516 lb·ft) of torque at 5,500 rpm. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.6 seconds and has a top speed of 319 km/h (198 mph). Its signature matte green launch color, "AMG Green Hell Magno", nods to the Nürburgring nickname "Green Hell", where the car was developed.
On top of the GT C's wider body and rear steering, the GT R adds manually adjustable coilover springs and an active underbody fairing that manages airflow beneath the car. It also carries a manually adjustable rear wing and a 9-mode AMG Traction Control system. That system lets drivers fine-tune how much wheel spin the car allows — useful for track driving.
The GT R stood out visually with vertical slats in the front grille, inspired by the 300 SL that won the 1952 Carrera Panamericana race. New front air intakes and front and rear diffusers completed the look, which closely resembled the AMG GT3 race car.
At the Nürburgring Nordschleife, the GT R recorded a lap time of 7 minutes and 10.92 seconds in a test by Sport Auto. That made it the fastest rear-wheel-drive production car around the track at the time.
A roadster version of the GT R was introduced in March 2019, limited to just 750 units.
4.5 AMG GT R Pro✎
The GT R Pro, revealed at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, is an even more track-focused version of the GT R. Limited to 750 units worldwide at a starting price of about $200,645, it shares the GT R's 430 kW engine and performance figures but adds numerous upgrades for track use.
These include a new manually adjustable coilover suspension, lightweight anti-roll bars, electronically controlled dynamic engine and transmission mounts, carbon-fiber bucket seats, and lightweight forged wheels (19-inch front, 20-inch rear). The carbon-fiber roof and carbon-ceramic brakes — options on the GT R — come as standard on the Pro. Aerodynamic improvements include a carbon-fiber front splitter with canards, GT3-inspired fender vents, an updated rear diffuser with canards, new side skirts, and a rear wing with a gurney flap for extra downforce.
At the Nürburgring Nordschleife in November 2018, the GT R Pro set a lap time of 7 minutes and 4.632 seconds with driver Maro Engel behind the wheel.
4.6 AMG GT Black Series✎
The Black Series is the ultimate first-generation AMG GT, officially revealed on July 9, 2020. Its engine, referred to as the M178 LS2, is tuned to produce 537 kW (730 PS / 720 hp) at 6,700–6,900 rpm. Torque peaks at 800 N·m (590 lb·ft) between 2,000 and 6,000 rpm. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds (tested at 3.0 seconds) and has a top speed of 325 km/h (202 mph).
What makes the Black Series engine special is its use of a flat-plane crankshaft instead of the cross-plane crankshaft found in other AMG GT models. This changes the engine's firing order and gives it a different, more exotic sound. The engine also has a higher redline of 7,200 rpm, versus 7,000 rpm on the GT R. Turbo boost pressure rises to 170 kPa (24.6 psi), compared to the GT R's 135 kPa (19.6 psi).
Carbon fiber is used extensively throughout the body, including the hood, roof, hatch, and underbody. The exterior features an enlarged grille inspired by the GT3 race car, large air outlets on the hood, a manually adjustable front splitter, and an upgraded rear wing with an active aero flap. The wing and overall aerodynamic package generate more than 400 kg (882 lb) of downforce at 249 km/h (155 mph). The car rides on car-specific Michelin Pilot Cup 2 R tires, available in soft and hard compounds.
On November 4, 2020, the GT Black Series lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 6 minutes and 43.616 seconds with driver Maro Engel. That made it the fastest road-legal production car around the track at the time.
4.7 AMG GT Track Series✎
In 2022, Mercedes-AMG launched the GT Track Series, a track-only car based on the Black Series. Created to celebrate AMG's 55th anniversary, only 55 units were built. It is not road legal and was designed exclusively for track day enthusiasts.
5 Roadster variants✎
The GT Roadster and GT C Roadster are open-top versions of their coupe counterparts. Announced shortly after the GT R's introduction, both made their debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show.
Both roadsters use the active air management system from the GT R for improved cooling and airflow. The GT C Roadster keeps the wider body of the GT C coupe. They feature a three-layer fabric roof built around an aluminum, magnesium, and steel structure, available in black, red, or beige. The roof can open and close in just 11 seconds at speeds up to 50 km/h (31 mph).
In October 2021, Mercedes-Benz announced that the new R232 SL-Class would serve as the direct successor to the GT Roadster.
6 Formula 1 safety car✎
The AMG GT has a notable history as the official Formula 1 safety car. The GT S served in this role for the 2015, 2016, and 2017 F1 seasons, debuting at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix. The GT R took over as the safety car from 2018 through 2021. During the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix, the safety car wore a special red livery instead of its traditional silver to celebrate Scuderia Ferrari's 1,000th Grand Prix start. For the 2021 season, the GT R safety car permanently switched to a red livery to improve visibility in poor conditions. Starting in 2022, the GT Black Series replaced the GT R as the official F1 safety car.
7 Motorsport✎
7.1 GT3✎
In March 2015, Mercedes-AMG presented the AMG GT3 race car at the Geneva Motor Show. Unlike the road car's 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, the GT3 uses the older 6.2-liter M159 naturally aspirated V8 engine, the same engine used in the SLS AMG GT3. Mercedes-AMG chose it for its proven reliability and user-friendliness in racing conditions. The car's body is made largely of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer to bring its weight under 1,300 kg (2,866 lb), as required by FIA regulations.
The GT3 quickly became a dominant force in GT racing worldwide. At the 2016 24 Hours of Nürburgring, Mercedes-AMG GT3 cars finished in the top six positions (1st through 4th, and 6th). The car competed in major series around the world, including the Blancpain Endurance Series, ADAC GT Masters, Super GT (Japan), Australian GT Championship, and the IMSA SportsCar Championship. By June 2019, a total of 130 GT3 cars had been sold to customer teams.
An updated version of the GT3 was introduced in 2019 for the 2020 racing season, featuring new headlamps, an updated grille, improved brake and traction control systems, and an automatic data logger. The GT3 entered the FIA World Endurance Championship's LM GT3 class in 2025. That marked Mercedes' return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans since the dramatic 1999 race, where the Mercedes-Benz CLR famously flipped during the event.
7.2 GT4✎
The AMG GT4 customer racing car was presented at the 2017 24 Hours of Spa. Based on the road-going GT R, it is aimed at semi-professional drivers competing in the SRO GT4 class. The car made its racing debut in the fifth round of the 2017 VLN season at the Nürburgring, and received significant upgrades for the 2022 season.
7.3 GT2✎
The AMG GT2 was unveiled in December 2022 for competition in the SRO GT2 category. Powered by a 707 hp version of the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, it is the most powerful customer racing car Mercedes-AMG had built at the time. The GT2 made its racing debut during the first round of the 2023 GT2 European Series at Monza and won its first race during the second round at the Red Bull Ring.
A non-competitive track-day version called the GT2 Pro was also introduced, featuring an even more powerful 739 hp engine.
8 Specifications✎
| Model | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–100 km/h | Top speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GT | 4.0 L M178 twin-turbo V8 | 340 kW (462 PS) | 601 N·m (443 lb·ft) | 4.0 s | 304 km/h (189 mph) |
| GT S | 4.0 L M178 twin-turbo V8 | 375 kW (510 PS) | 651 N·m (480 lb·ft) | 3.8 s | 310 km/h (193 mph) |
| GT C | 4.0 L M178 twin-turbo V8 | 410 kW (557 PS) | 681 N·m (502 lb·ft) | 3.7 s | 317 km/h (197 mph) |
| GT R | 4.0 L M178 twin-turbo V8 | 430 kW (585 PS) | 700 N·m (516 lb·ft) | 3.6 s | 319 km/h (198 mph) |
| GT R Pro | 4.0 L M178 twin-turbo V8 | 430 kW (585 PS) | 700 N·m (516 lb·ft) | 3.6 s | 319 km/h (198 mph) |
| GT Black Series | 4.0 L M178 LS2 twin-turbo V8 | 537 kW (730 PS) | 800 N·m (590 lb·ft) | 3.2 s | 325 km/h (202 mph) |


