News: Mercedes-AMG GT prices and specifications announced as orders begin

SPORTS CAR buyers won’t get their hands on one in time for Christmas, but order books have opened for the Mercedes-AMG GT and the prices have been announced. Deliveries are scheduled for April 2015, and the two-seat sports car starts at £97,195 for the GT, £110,495 for the more powerful GT S and £122,745 for the GT S Edition 1.

Browse the used Mercedes for sale on driving.co.uk

Standard equipment includes 19in wheels, a mechanical limited-slip differential, switchable AMG performance exhaust, AMG sports suspension, an adjustable rear wing and the Comand control system with 8.4in screen. The GT S models come with 20in rear wheels, larger brake discs with red callipers, an electronic rear diff and three-mode sports suspension.

The GT S Edition 1 is distinguished by its fixed rear wing and deep front splitter, aerodynamic front wings, high-gloss silver and black wheels, carbon roof, black mirror and window surrounds, black rear diffuser and black exhaust tips; inside, it has red-stitched leather/suede seats and upholstery.

Customers can choose from 11 paint colours – including AMG Solarbeam yellow – 14 leather seat colours and up to four wheel designs, depending on the model. Further options include track-oriented AMG performance seats (£1,895; standard in the Edition 1), ceramic brakes (£5,995) and the Premium pack (£4,195, including 640W Burmester sound system, keyless ignition and fixed panoramic sunroof and reversing camera).

Buyers can also opt for the Dynamic Plus package (£1,795), with adaptable engine mounts that give a stiffer or softer steering feel, depending on your driving style.

Engineered by Mercedes’ AMG performance division in Affalterbach, the GT S and GT S Edition 1 feature an all-new bi-turbo 4-litre V8 giving 503bhp and 479 lb ft of torque. They’re not quite as fast as the 200mph Eurostar train also announced today, but 196mph and 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds certainly isn’t sluggish.

The slightly lower-revving 456bhp, 443 lb ft GT model, good for 189mph and 0-62mph in four seconds, follows later in the year.

Unlike the car it replaces, the £191,000 SLS AMG, the new Merc does not feature gullwing doors. Car enthusiasts who still hanker after a pair of could always consider a used SLS, now available for around the same price as an AMG GT – we’ve found them for just under £111,000 in our used car ads.

For the definitive verdict on whether the AMG GT is as good as the Porsche 911, pick up The Sunday Times this weekend or come back to driving.co.uk on Monday for our report.

Browse the used Mercedes for sale on driving.co.uk