AMG GT S & Aston Martin V8 Vantage Go Head to Head on Top Gear
Both these luxury sports cars are powered by Mercedes-Benz M17x engines, but one simply performs better than the other (hint: it’s AMG).
Modern sports cars are kind of crazy. The levels of performance, power, luxury, and handling all in one compact package is truly outstanding and we are constantly impressed by manufactures’ ability to push technology and innovation further and further. One of these cars has been without a doubt the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT. Its characteristic and distinctly German design can be spotted from a mile away. Did we mention its very fast and is just as enjoyable to drive?
Well, you wouldn’t be surprised to hear that even as good as this car is, it isn’t without competition. Let’s introduce the current generation Aston Martin Vantage V8. We won’t lie, the car is definitely attractive and has some very pretty body lines. However, the Aston Martin holds a secret beneath its hood: an AMG twin-turbo V8. Thanks to Top Gear’s YouTube, we get to see a little bit of action between these two good-looking competitors.
One key different to immediately mention off of the bat is that although these cars may share the same engine platform, they don’t share exactly the same engine. The Vantage V8 is powered by the M177 twin-turbo V8 while the GT S is powered by the M178 twin-turbo V8. The M177 is shared among a variety of vehicles in the AMG line-up such as the E63 and C63, but only the AMG GT receives the M178. Although there are only slight differences between both, they do respond very differently.
The M178 is tuned for high rpm, high horsepower, while the M177 features a more responsive and torquey low-end. Both cars have similar power figures so the tuning really comes into play when it comes to overall performance. During the video, presenter Matt LeBlanc posts up both cars for an old-fashioned drag race. The results are telling. Both cars look equally matched off the line but as the speeds start to build up its obvious that the Vantage is the slower of the two as the AMG GT S really pulls away on the straight.
The question is which one would you spend your money on? Well, if you’re buying the car for its engine, you might as well buy the car with the better engine, it only makes sense. However, at the end of the day, both of the cars are fantastic and since Mercedes-AMG is powering both, you can’t really go wrong. Which car would you guys choose? Let us know the comments below.
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