Mercedes-AMG GT S Tries to Go Back-to-Back as Best Driver’s Car

By Tony Markovich - September 26, 2016

mercedes-amg

Every year, Motor Trend hold’s a competition with the best sports cars in the world to determine the “Best Driver’s Car.” Last year, the Mercedes-AMG GT S won. Because it’s a gosh-darned fantastic car. But a car is only as good as its present, not its past, and Motor Trend is back again this year with a new set of cars to hit the track.

The excitement took place at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with pro driver Randy Pobst behind the wheel doing the hot laps. The GT S is pretty much the same as it was last year: $170,000, 500-horsepower V8, rear-wheel drive, 3,700 lbs, seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The only real difference is this year’s car has a new aero kit. And, of course, outside of the car, some of the opponents are different. Here’s the full list of track times:

1. Dodge Viper ACR – 1:31.58
2. Audi R8 V10 Plus – 1:34.23
3. McLaren 570S – 1:34.58
4. Mercedes-AMG GT S – 1:35.30
5. Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R – 1:36.11
6. Acura NSX – 1:36.36
7. Porsche 911 Carrera S – 1:36.44
8. Nissan GT-R – 1:37.08
9. BMW M4 GTS – 1:37.66
10. Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE – 1:37.78
11. Jaguar F-Type SVR – 1:38.75
12. Aston Martin V12 Vantage S – 1:41.77

As you can see in the video below, Pobst ran the GT S in race mode and in full automatic. And, not surprisingly, he loved the car. He described it as very “macho” and said it has more of a linebacker feel than that of a running back. A linebacker that can drift? Maybe this should be a contestant in the next season of Dancing With the Stars?