Mercedes AMG makes its electric GT sound like a V8
Mercedes AMG has released a video showing its soon to debut electric AMG GT 4 Door Coupé doing its best impression of a V8. In Sport+ mode, the car pumps a synthetic eight cylinder soundtrack into the cabin, serves up a virtual rev counter and even lets the driver “shift gears” with the paddles behind the steering wheel.
For the latest round of teasing, AMG took the new model to an ice track in Lapland and handed the wheel to its US brand ambassador, Gabriel Macht. The video is not really about entertainment, though. It is a fairly clear signal that winter testing is nearly done and the world premiere is only weeks away. AMG also says the new GT 4 Door Coupé will be its first series production model to use the dedicated AMG.EA electric architecture, developed specifically for AMG, with market launch due in 2026.
The most revealing detail is the sound. In Sport+ mode, the car activates what AMG effectively presents as a “new V8”, an imitation that works in sync with the digital instrument display, the rev counter graphic and the virtual gear changes controlled by the paddles. The start up sound, the illusion of climbing revs and the stepped shifts are all carefully engineered to recreate the feel of a combustion engined performance car, even though the work itself is done by electric motors.
AMG is not stopping at theatre. From the technical hints already released, the new model will also get a driver control system called Race Engineer. Its three rotary controllers adjust throttle response, the car’s willingness to rotate and the level of traction control intervention. Mercedes AMG’s own preview material spells it out clearly. Response Control, Agility Control and Traction Control are meant to give the driver a direct set of tools, the sort of fine tuning enthusiasts usually associate with track days and mechanical performance cars rather than an electric four door.
Mercedes AMG also states on the official CONCEPT AMG GT XX page that the technology programme previews its future four door series production sports car. The concept uses three electric motors, produces more than 1000 kW, or over 1360 hp, and targets a top speed beyond 360 km/h. AMG also claims its new high performance battery system can sustain charging power of more than 850 kW across a broad section of the charging curve. Those figures make the point neatly enough. This new GT does not intend to play a supporting role among electric performance cars. It wants a seat at the very front, and preferably the loudest one in the room.
