5 Reasons Why the Mercedes-AMG GT S is Still a Hit

As an automotive writer, there are always a few test cars that stand out a bit more than others when I look back on the year and start thinking about the ones I’ve driven.

Such is the case with the 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S, which has been getting a lot of buzz as various media outlets cast their votes for the best cars of the year. In fact, I can’t imagine the hype over the car dying down any time soon, based on the crowd it drew at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show. After test driving the GT S a few months ago, I came up with the top five reasons why I think it’s earned so many accolades. Here they are:

1. STRIKING DESIGN – The Mercedes-AMG GT S is simply breathtaking, automotive artistry at its best with its long hood and meticulously sculpted details. The showroom floor, with all its bright lights and glamour, still really doesn’t do the GT S justice. It’s even more striking in person. While the car certainly picks up a lot of its styling cues from the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, the lines have a bit more classic appeal on the GT S.

2. INSANELY QUICK – Any true performance buff will tell you that the idea of menacingly quick speed is completely different than the feeling you get behind the wheel. With a true 0–60 mph time of 3.7 seconds, the AMG GT S (powered by that new 4.0-liter 500-plus HP biturbo V8 engine) certainly delivers in both areas as a high-performance car. However, it’s the sensation of moving forward at warp speed that makes you linger in the driver’s seat.

3. STUNNING INTERIOR – I sifted through more than 30 shots I took of the Mercedes-AMG GT S’s interior during my test drive and not one does the cockpit justice. So I just pulled one from the press kit. Touted as the next expression of Mercedes’ Aviation Design language, the car’s cockpit leaves you breathless even if you just sit in it.

4. DUAL PERSONALITY – Quickness notwithstanding, it’s really the overall flexibility of the Mercedes-AMG GT S as both a street-legal race car and comfortable everyday driver that really sells you on the car overall. Credit features such as the double-wishbone suspension, electronically controlled damping system, and the GT S’s five selectable driving modes, including the GT-S-exclusive manual “RACE” program.

5. STILL A STEAL – Remember, cost is relative. So when I say the Mercedes-AMG GT-S is a steal with a base price of roughly $130,000, keep in mind that that’s not intended to be taken in the same context as say, buying a Toyota Prius. Know this, too: there are exotics that start at around $200K that don’t even come close to offering the thrill of driving the AMG GT-S provides, which is why the Mercedes has outscored so many of them in “car of the year” standings.

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