cars news 10: Mercedes-AMG GT Concept First Look: Panamera Predator

Porsche is making lots of four-door noise on its Geneva show stand, hawking new Panamera variants such as the Sport Turismo shooting brake and the range-topping Turbo S E-Hybrid. Playing the role of spoiler from clear across the hall is Mercedes-AMG and its ever-expanding line of GT models. The six coupe and convertible models currently offered each take sharp aim at a particular 911 variant, and a sleek fastback hatch sedan that’s coming soon is aimed squarely at the Panamera. This GT Concept suggests what such a GT 4 might look like.

All we can officially tell you at this point is that AMG’s 50th birthday present to itself highlights the brand’s Sensual Purity design language of muscular proportions and highly sensuous body surfacing, all of which is coated in a Hot Red paint that is said to shimmer like liquid metal. The Panamericana grille (another subtle jab at Porsche?) apes the design of the Mercedes-Benz race cars that competed in that historic race. It features black vertical ribs painted red on their sides. Contrasting the red bodywork are a clear-coated carbon-fiber splitter, side sills, and a rear diffuser, the latter sporting a single central exhaust outlet like the one on the racy AMG GT R. Side mirrors are ditched in favor of aero-slick cameras. That feature and maybe the flush door handles are concept fantasy, but most of the rest of the design looks pretty production feasible.

Mercedes AMG GT concept front three quarter

Mercedes AMG GT Concept Showcar rear three quarter

Mercedes AMG GT concept rear three quarter

To date the only official word we have on the GT Concept’s underlying hardware is that it provides “an indication of the alternative drive configurations AMG is designing.” We expect that’s a reference to some form of electrification, featuring one of the mild 48-volt hybrid starter/alternator designs we described on the M264 2.0-liter I-4 and M256 3.0-liter twin-turbo I-6 or something more aggressive that would be better able to match the Sport Response (press-to-pass) electro-boost feature on the new Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid.

We expect the eventual GT 4 model to be based on the sport-optimized MRA architecture that underpins AMG’s C63, E63, and S63 coupe. Look for the hottest versions to be powered by the increasingly ubiquitous 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 with improved twin-scroll turbochargers nestled in the valley of the vee to further improve breathing. Base and S variants are anticipated with outputs ranging from near 500 to more than 600 hp. Lesser versions sporting an AMG-tuned riff on the M256 twin-turbo six could eventually serve as rivals for the entry-level Panameras.

Torque is routed through a version of AMG’s Speedshift MCT transmissions (with a multiplate clutch pack replacing the torque converter in a typical automatic). 4Matic+ all-wheel drive will likely be standard on the top performers. Look for more information—especially if you’re poised to drop the long green on a Panamera Turbo, a BMW M6 Gran Coupe, or an Audi RS 7.