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Is the new AMG GT 63 Pro model a Porsche 911 Turbo or is it more of a 911 GT3 rival? Mercedes-AMG doesn't care and here's why.
It stands to reason that were you Mercedes-AMG and selling a high-end performance 2+2 coupe that's equally at home on a road or a race track, the Porsche 911 might well be the target vehicle in your crosshairs.
When asked at the local launch of the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Pro which Porsche 911 this 450kW monster most closely equated to, the answer was a somewhat surprising 'none of the above'.
"To be honest, the typical AMG owner isn't going to cross shop these cars," said Jerry Stamoulis, Mercedes-Benz's local head of media relations. "Customers for the GT 63 Pro are more likely to come from a G63 and now they want a sports car instead, or as well," he claimed.
"E63 AMG as well," he said, highlighting another path into AMG GT ownership.
On paper, the new $418,900 AMG GT 63 Pro most closely stacks up against the current 911 Carrera 4 GTS coupe, which is priced at $412,300. Both feature all-wheel drive, rear-axle steering, a 0-100km/h time in the low-threes, a 2+2 body and more ability than most of us could ever care to exploit.
Both manufacturers have long and storied competition pedigrees and both have a reputation for developing reassuringly overengineered cars that will carry some serious kudos in pit lane.
Yet there are some key differences too. Aside from the obvious – the position of the engines – the Porsche features a state-of-the-art hybrid system with an electrically-actuated turbocharger. The Mercedes-AMG leans on there being no substitute for cubic capacity, balancing the Porsche's 3.6-litre powerplant with a hand built 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8.
Yet Mercedes isn't looking at its Stuttgart-based rival. Or so it claims.
Andy brings almost 30 years automotive writing experience to his role at Drive. When he wasn’t showing people which way the Nürburgring went, he freelanced for outlets such as Car, Autocar, and The Times. After contributing to Top Gear Australia, Andy subsequently moved Down Under, serving as editor at MOTOR and Wheels. As Drive’s Road Test Editor, he’s at the heart of our vehicle testing, but also loves to spin a long-form yarn.
