It might be based on the same aluminum chassis as the SLS, albeit a shorter version of it, but the new AMG GT is no direct replacement for Mercedes’ supercar.

For one, it lacks the gullwing doors and, with them, a lot of the drama that went with owning an SLS; at least the coupe version anyway. Then, it lost the naturally aspirated 6.3-liter and its aural glory but the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter is no slouch.

It shouldn’t be, not with 456hp (462PS) for the “plain” GT and 503hp (510PS) for the GT S, which are good enough for a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration time of 4.0 and 3.8 seconds respectively.

It is obvious that Mercedes ordered AMG to build a different kind of animal: smaller, leaner and considerably less expensive, setting its sight on the default pick of the class, the Porsche 911, as well as other sports cars like the Jaguar F-Type and the Audi R8, to name but two.

While the first cars started rolling down the production line after its debut at last year’s Paris Auto Show, the UK won’t be getting it before April. Nor will the US, for that matter, and that’s for the pricier GT S – the GT will be a year late.

Anyhow, the German automaker has just released a new gallery of its 911-fighter, which you can see right after the virtual jump.

Photo Gallery