Just in time for the 50th anniversary of the brand, it’s believed that Mercedes-AMG will take the wraps off their long-rumoured GT4, a four door version of their GT coupe meant to directly compete with the Porsche Panamera, Audi RS7 Sportback, and BMW M6 Gran Coupe.
Autocar reports that the car’s market introduction following this reveal in the Swiss capital will coincide with the production end of the CLS Shooting Brake, scheduled for early to mid 2018.
Despite it clearly being derived from the existing AMG GT and sitting in an elongated platform, this will still count as the brand’s third independent series production model, a lineage beginning with the SLS back in 2010, an era prior to them having a more distinct identity from the Benz umbrella.
Tobias Moers, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH, is the driving force behind the performance brand’s endeavour to the uncharted waters of super saloons, obviously seeing the considerable opportunities to expand their reach.
The M178 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 petrol engine would be a natural fit for the new AMG model, with a possible tune beyond 447kW to maintain a sufficiently high power to weight ratio and keep it on par with the top-end of the Panamera range.
The Porsche offering does offer a wide range of powertrain options, from a V6 to a V8 to a hybrid, each having their unique benefits and characteristics, meaning AMG might have to dig into the Mercedes-Benz treasure chest if they find their customers wanting more variety under the bonnet.
Seeing as how the all-wheel drive has been popular in the future GT4’s competitors and indeed in AMG-tuned versions of existing Benz vehicles such as the C 63 and E 63, the 4Matic system may have to be worked into the AMG GT’s architecture, which up to this point has been only offered with rear-wheel drive.
It is also suspected that AMG will also use the same 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol engine currently used in milder versions of Mercedes-Benz performance cars such as the C 43, E 43, and GLC 43.
Apart from the obvious growth in length and a stretched wheelbase, it’s unclear if the upcoming GT4 will also receive a wider body to better accommodate rear passengers. Should the width remain identical to the coupe, the car might be a strict four seater like the Ferrari GTC4Lusso.
Affalterbach remains quite silent on the subject so far, as is appropriate, meaning that the full reveal in Geneva come early March is when the most pressing questions about the new AMG model will be answered.
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