Would you pay $107,000 for a four-cylinder Mercedes-AMG GT?

The new base Mercedes-AMG GT 43 gives you a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and explains where the other cylinders go

Don’t get me wrong, I have a four-cylinder sports car parked outside as I write this (I’ll call it an S2000 just for curiosity’s sake), and I’ll be the first to admit that a good four-cylinder engine (in Check out your favorites here) can fascinate most enthusiasts. For example, there’s a reason why the Golf GTI has always been a favorite.

But what about a four-cylinder engine in a high-end sports car like the Mercedes-AMG GT? It feels like a different conversation entirely — especially when the AMG GT 43 starts at $105,900 and rises to $107,050 with a $1,150 destination and handling fee, making it one of the most expensive four-cylinder cars on the market. For a while.

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If the AMG faithful are already complaining louder than the straight-tube V8 that the C63’s eight-cylinder engine has been swapped out for a tech-rich but cylinder-starved 2.0-liter plug-in hybrid unit, one can only imagine dealing with this The mental gymnastics the situation requires. AMG GT43.

Marketing spin meets reality

Mercedes went to great lengths to push the story, promoting a “lightweight, hand-crafted AMG 2.0L inline-4 turbo engine” that boasts an electric exhaust turbocharger with technology borrowed from Formula 1 racing cars. Produces 416 horsepower. The car offers “an engaging and dynamic driving experience, agile handling and a wide range of standard equipment.”

fair enough. But here’s the thing: 0-60 mph takes 4.5 seconds. That’s not slow by any reasonable standard, but in this day and age, even a $41,200 BMW 230i xDrive Coupe can hit 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, which isn’t going to make your jaw drop. fell to the floor.

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So how does it compare to other current offerings in the AMG GT range? For about $31,000 more, you can upgrade to the AMG GT 55 ($137,550, a $2,650 increase over the 2024 model). Here, you’re looking at a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 with 469 horsepower and a 0-60 time of 3.8 seconds. If you’ve got $179,050 to burn, the AMG GT 63 offers a more satisfying 577 hp and surges to 60 hp in just 3.1 seconds (all prices exclude destination).

Choose carefully

The base AMG GT 43 is decently equipped, with 19-inch wheels, nappa leather upholstery, a Burmester surround-sound system, and tech features like a surround-view camera, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. But you’d better be wary of options like multi-contour front seats with massage function, 20/21-inch wheels or adaptive ride control suspension, because it’s easy to slip into V8 pricing territory. At that point, you’d better seek out extra cylinders and performance immediately.

So, who is this car for?

If you’re here for pure performance, a thunderous soundtrack, or numbers that will win you points at Cars and Coffee, the four-cylinder AMG GT 43 won’t satisfy your needs. But if all you really care about is the badge, styling and exclusivity of driving a four-cylinder AMG GT, maybe this makes sense in a twisted, compromising way with its neighbors. Just make sure to keep the hood closed.

Standard equipment

• AMG sports suspension
• 19-inch AMG wheels
• AMG silver brake calipers
• AMG performance exhaust
• AMG track speed
• digital headlight
• Nappa leather interior
• Power heated front seats with memory and four-way power driver’s lumbar support
• “+2” rear seats with folding backrests
• AMG Performance Nappa leather steering wheel with AMG DRIVE UNIT buttons and heated rim
• 12.3-inch driver display and 11.9-inch central multimedia display
• Sound of Berlin surround sound system
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Wireless smartphone charging
• 360° surround camera
• Blind spot assist

Options

• AMG Night Package
• AMG Long Night Package
• AMG exterior chrome package
• Driver Assistance Package
• AMG ride control suspension
• 20-inch and 21-inch AMG wheels
• Burmester high-end 3D surround sound system
• AMG performance steering wheel in Nappa leather/microfiber or microfiber/carbon fiber
• Multi-contour front seats with massage function
• Ventilated front seats
• heads up display