The GT 43, Mercedes-AMG’s entry-level GT sports car, has been revealed. The 2.0-liter turbo four-pot, mildly hybrid engine from the AMG A 45 S, which produces 421 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque, replaces the GT 63’s vicious 4.0-liter V8 engine with 585 horsepower. Power is sent to the rear wheels only, not the four, using Mercedes’ 9-speed automated transmission, much like in the GT 63.
With its 1,775kg weight as opposed to the GT 63’s 1,895kg, the GT 43 is substantially lighter overall thanks to the mechanical modifications. Additionally, Mercedes claims that they offer a more “favourable weight distribution.” The mass distribution of the GT 63 is, for example, 46% in the front and 47% in the back.
The coupé’s straight-line speed is naturally reduced by the smaller engine; the GT 43 completes the 0-100 km/h race in 4.6 seconds, which is 1.4 seconds slower than the GT 63. However, AMG CEO Michael Scheibe claims that the GT 43, which Mercedes is marketing as the most nimble vehicle in the GT lineup, “will put a smile on your face on winding roads.”
Additionally available as an optional extra is rear-wheel steering, which can assist with cornering at speeds of up to 100 kph. Mercedes AMG the GT 43 shares the same five-link front and rear suspension setup, which combines conventional steel springs with adjustable twin-valve dampers, as its more muscular sister.
Its less aggressive appearance, which reflects its entry-level placement with a lower front grille and reprofiled front bumper, sets it apart visually. In addition, the wheel arches are smaller than on the V8 car, and instead of 20-inch wheels, 19-inch ones are nestled behind them.