In recent years, Mercedes-AMG has dramatically expanded its range, and one of the most impressive has proven to be the AMG GT 4-Door.
In flagship GT 63+ guise, it is one of the fastest super sedans on the market and capable of speeds that many sports cars – and even a few supercars – can’t compete with. By all accounts, it is a superb car. However, what is the more affordable GT 53 like to drive?
In the latest episode of The Smoking Tire, Matt Farah jumped behind the wheel of the car and emerged with mixed emotions.
Watch Also: Mercedes-AMG GT 53 Makes $100K Price Tag Seem Pretty Reasonable
The first thing to mention about the AMG GT 53 is its complex powertrain. Whereas the GT 63+ uses a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, the GT 53 has a turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six that works alongside an electric motor and a 48-volt electrical system operating through Mercedes’ ‘EQ Boost’ system. The engine also has an electrically-driven supercharger to eliminate lag and flatten out the torque curve. All up, the this powertrain is good for 435 hp and 383 lb-ft (520 Nm) of torque, allowing the car to hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.5 seconds and a 167 mph (270 km/h) top speed.
On the road, the GT 53 appears quite fast and handles very well, thanks in no small part to the 275 mm front and 315 mm rear tires. It’s not all good news, though, as it weighs roughly 300 lbs (136 kg) more than the GT 63+, so it simply isn’t as nice to drive as its bigger brother.