2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT

For another year, the AMG GT occupies top spot in the Mercedes lineup, performance-wise. As it was for 2018, the GT is once again a legitimate supercar available with up to 630 hp from a turbocharged V8 engine.

New for 2019, Benz expands the GT range with a four-door coupe model the brand says has its sights set on vehicles like the Porsche Panamera and Maserati Quattroporte with a practical cargo space and available big power.

In fact, the GT four-door coupe becomes the most potent car in the range with the availability of the GT 63 S trim and its 4.0L turbo V8 tuned for the aforementioned 630 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque. That engine also powers the GT 63 model with 577 hp/590 lb-ft, while the GT 53’s turbo inline six with electric boost is good for up to 450 hp and 468 lb-ft of torque.

Carried over are traditional coupe and roadster body styles. The coupe comes as the GT C with a 550 hp/502 lb-ft version of the turbo V8, and the R coupe is a 577-hp/516 lb-ft machine. The roadster comes solely in GT C trim with the 550-hp engine.

Coupe and roadster variants use RWD and a seven-speed automatic transmission, and four-door coupe models get AWD and a nine-speed auto.

If the four-door coupe is going after the likes of the Panamera and Quattroporte, the coupe and roadster versions of this car still have their sights set on the Audi R8, Porsche 911 Turbo and Nissan GT-R.

Four-door coupe models get a new centre console with colour display buttons to control transmission, suspension, exhaust system and rear spoiler functions. It’s a slick arrangement that is, unsurprisingly, reminiscent of the Panamera’s interior.

There’s also a track pace package that lets you record all sorts of performance data to analyze at the end of lapping days.

Other standards items are 19-inch wheels, LED headlights with automatic high beams, panoramic sunroof, navigation, sport seats, automatic climate control, smartphone integration and wireless charging, park assist and blind spot monitoring.

While it sounds to us like the four-door coupe is designed with the driver in mind, Benz nonetheless offers the option of power rear seats with heat and separate climate controls. A Premium pack adds a heated steering wheel, surround-view exterior camera, ventilated front seats, soft-close doors and a warmth comfort package. Standalone extras include a head-up display and heated windshield.

GT 63 additions focus on offering better control of the V8’s massive power, with more advanced suspension, braking and exhaust systems and a limited slip differential. There are also 20-inch wheels and painted brake calipers.

As of this writing, Mercedes hadn’t published fuel consumption estimates for the 2019 AMG GT, but we expect the new six-cylinder four-door model to handily undercut last year’s best showing for V8 models: 14.5/10.8 L/100 km (city/highway) in the two-door coupe.