- AMG’s latest EV mimics V8 noises using over 1,600 separate sound samples.
- Simulated shifts and burbles aim to recreate ICE drama in the performance EV.
- GT is available as a 55 or a 63, with the top one good for 62 mph in 2.1 seconds.
Mercedes-AMG’s new GT 4-Door Coupe might not burn gasoline, but it definitely burns rubber, and wants you to convince you it torches both. The all-electric super sedan debuted yesterday packing up to 1,153 hp (1,169 PS / 860 kW) and enough synthetic V8 noise to make nearby Hellcats nervously check their mirrors.
AMG also released footage of a bright yellow four-door coupe being hammered around a test circuit so we can make our own minds up about the fake V8 growls, aggressive crackles, and simulated gearshifts.
Related: Mercedes-AMG Is Bringing Back The Noise, The Drama, And The V8
The mischievous Mercedes brand calls the system AMGFORCE S+, and unlike the generic spaceship noises many EVs settle for, this setup specifically tries to mimic the sound and feel of the AMG GT R’s V8. That means fake upshifts, fake drivetrain interruptions, fake burbling on overrun, and apparently enough bass-heavy theatrics to shake your chest while accelerating.
The company’s engineers went seriously over the top when creating it, too. Mercedes says the sound system uses more than 1,600 individual audio samples combined in real time depending on throttle inputs, speed, shifting events and driving behavior. There are even custom sounds for unlocking the car, plugging in the charger and starting launch control.
Three Axial-Flux Motors
All mouth? Not at all. The AMG with the fugliest back end we’ve seen on a new car for a long while has more than enough firepower to back up the noise. Riding on the company’s bespoke AMG.EA architecture, the GT 63 4Matic+ packs a 106 kWh battery, an 800-volt electrical system, and three axial-flux electric motors producing up to 1,153 hp and 1,475 lb-ft (2,000 Nm) of torque with launch control activated.
AMG claims it’ll hit 62 mph (100 kmh) in 2.1 seconds with US-type drag strip rollout, top out at 186 mph (300 kmh), and recharge from 10-80 percent in only 11 minutes thanks to 600 kW charging capability.
Fast, But Not For Real
So it’s brutally fast in every sense. But the fake V8 soundtrack is what everyone’s going to argue about. Some enthusiasts will love that AMG’s trying to preserve some emotional drama in the EV era. Others will probably think it’s the automotive equivalent of lip-syncing. But what do you think?
Watch the video, crank the volume up, and tell us whether AMG nailed it or completely lost the plot.
