2016 Wheels Car of the Year finalist: Mercedes-AMG GT S

GT once stood for Grand Tourer, but not when AMG gets involved.

IF THERE was an award for Sound of the Year – and many who drove this bright yellow AMG GT S thought there should be – you’d be looking at the winner.

Of the 2016 COTY field, nothing came within a V8 decibel of the AMG’s fuel-gurgling, eardrum-shattering soundtrack, which made even the 5.0-litre V8-powered Lexus RC-F seem timid in comparison.

As good as it looks, it’s a credit to AMG’s engine boffins that the one thing that dominates the GT’s driving experience is what lies under its long, wide bonnet. Punching out 375kW and 650Nm from 1750 to 4750rpm, AMG’s front/mid-mounted 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 is an absolute monster. Flattening the right pedal makes very long straights suddenly quite short, with the GT’s tidal wave of grunt only increasing in ferocity with every cracking upshift from the seven-speed dual clutch.

The downside is that such finely honed smooth-road dynamics bring severe compromises. Over Lang Lang’s rough road section, the GT’s ride was unforgiving, and on public roads it’s even firmer. Occupants feel every lump, bump and crease.

There are worse places to get pummelled about in. The GT’s cabin is snug and beautifully appointed with a rich mix of materials dominated by supple leather and exposed carbonfibre. There’s little doubt the GT’s rock-star exterior and expensively trimmed interior reflect its near-$300K price.

So there are flaws, which is why the AMG GT S fell short of claiming our highest honour. But these shortcomings don’t detract from what is undeniably a brilliant piece of engineering.