Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door goes full EV with 1169PS, 3-motors, fake V8 sound and 2.4s 0-100km/h gut-punch

Mercedes-AMG has never exactly been known for subtlety, and its first bespoke high-performance EV looks set to continue that tradition in spectacularly ostentatious fashion. Unveiled ahead of its market launch, the all-new Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe marks a dramatic shift into the electric era for Affalterbach, bringing with it up to 1,153 horsepower, a tri-motor powertrain, active aerodynamics, and perhaps the most controversial feature of all - an always-on simulated V8 soundtrack complete with fake gearshifts. Could it work? 

Let's get into the nitty gritty. Both of how this was sprung up on an unsuspecting automotive media fraternity, and its rather outrageous specs. On the design, we'll bite our tongues for the time being. 

First of all, Mercedes invited media to Germany primarily to sample the facelifted 2027 S-Class and its updated V8 engine, but tucked away during the program was an exclusive preview of the new electric AMG GT 4-Door Coupe. While the car’s outrageous performance figures immediately grab attention, a larger talking point is AMGFORCE Sport+, a new drive mode designed to recreate the sensory drama of a combustion-powered AMG. Colour us cautious, but open-minded.

This isn’t some half-hearted spaceship soundtrack pumped through the speakers, though that would be more tasteful. Instead, AMG says the sounds were developed using audio signatures derived from the legendary C190 AMG GT R, and the results are apparently shockingly convincing, if you can suspend disbelief sufficiently. The system doesn’t just play noise inside the cabin either, but projects externally as well, delivering a loud, aggressive idle and revving character intended to mimic a large-capacity AMG V8. Mimic.

Combined with simulated upshifts, haptic feedback and carefully engineered sound layering, the experience aims to make the EV feel less like a silent appliance and more like a traditional AMG monster. Early impressions suggest AMG’s sound engineers may have genuinely cracked the code on emotional EV theatre. 

Of course, the technology raises many questions. After all, if the same sound system were fitted to a regular EV crossover, it too could theoretically sound like a fire-breathing AMG GT R. But whether enthusiasts embrace it or not, Mercedes-AMG claims to understands something many brands still struggle with: emotion.

The mixed reception to the four-cylinder Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance showed just how important engine character remains to AMG buyers. But whether emotion can be evoked by merely the surface-level stimuli of expertly synthesised sounds and haptics remains a big unknown. Again, colour us cautious by open-minded.

Thankfully, the numbers backing up this EV are every bit as outrageous as the supposed soundtrack.

Built on the new AMG.EA dedicated electric platform, the GT 4-Door Coupé launches initially in GT 55 and GT 63 forms, both using a triple axial-flux motor setup supplied by YASA technology, the British EV motor specialist Mercedes-Benz acquired back in 2021. 

Compared to traditional radial-flux motors, axial-flux designs are significantly more compact and power-dense, allowing AMG to package immense performance into a relatively low-slung body. The rear drive unit integrates two axial-flux motors with a single-stage planetary gearbox, while the front motor can decouple entirely during low-load cruising to improve efficiency, creating a fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system.

The flagship GT 63 4-Door Coupé 4MATIC+ develops a staggering 1169PS and up to 2,000Nm of torque, enough for a claimed 0-100km/h sprint in just 2.4 seconds, or an even more absurd 2.1 seconds using the industry-favoured one-foot rollout measurement. Meanwhile, the “entry-level” GT 55 still produces 816PS and 1,800Nm, dispatching 0-100km/h in 2.8 seconds. So, far from a slouch. 

Both variants share a 106kWh battery pack running on an 800-volt electrical architecture, with Mercedes-AMG claiming a top speed of 300km/h when equipped with the optional Driver’s Package.

Despite the performance focus, Mercedes-AMG is also making huge charging claims. The battery pack contains 2,660 cylindrical cells across 18 modules, with each cell directly cooled using a non-conductive oil-based coolant to maintain thermal consistency during repeated hard driving and ultra-fast charging sessions.

On sufficiently powerful DC infrastructure, the company claims the GT 4-Door Coupé can recover more than 460km of WLTP driving range in just 10 minutes. It can also reportedly add 70kWh in 10 minutes or 41kWh in five minutes, although achieving those figures will naturally require access to chargers capable of delivering the necessary power.

Official WLTP range figures are impressive too, with the GT 55 rated between 597km and 700km depending on specification, while the GT 63 manages between 596km and 696km.

Underneath, AMG hasn’t skimped on chassis technology. The GT 4-Door Coupé receives AMG Active Ride Control air suspension with semi-active roll stabilisation, active rear-wheel steering and multi-link suspension front and rear.

Rear-wheel steering can angle up to six degrees. Below 80km/h, the rear wheels steer opposite the fronts to improve agility, while above that speed they turn in phase for greater high-speed stability.

Braking performance is handled by carbon-ceramic front brakes paired with steel rear units, supported by regenerative braking systems.

Aerodynamics also play a major role in the car’s performance and efficiency. The GT features active front air panels, deployable underbody venturi elements, an extendable rear spoiler and an active rear diffuser. Mercedes-AMG claims a remarkably slippery drag coefficient of just 0.22, while wheel options ranging from 19 to 21 inches can also influence aerodynamic efficiency and range.

Inside, the cabin blends luxury and track-focused functionality, but pretty much goes wild with screen real estate. Drivers get a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster alongside a 14.0-inch central infotainment display, with an optional 14.0-inch passenger screen also available. Physical AMG Race Engineer rotary controls remain on the centre console, allowing direct adjustment of response settings, traction characteristics and cornering behaviour.

Series production of the new Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe is scheduled to begin in mid-2026 at Mercedes-Benz’s Sindelfingen plant in Germany, while the axial-flux motors will be built separately in Berlin-Marienfelde. As always with new models from that corner of the world, we won’t expect its arrival in Southeast Asia to be a real priority in its global rollout timeline. Still, we would be very curious to drive one.