2019 Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe VS 2019 Audi A7 Sportback 8
- 6 years ago
Mercedes-AMG GT 63: Most Powerful AMG Yet
The car debuts in a trio of familiar model designations, and the three-engine lineup includes inline-six and V-8 offerings, all fed with forced induction. The GT53 is the opening gambit and uses the carmaker’s recently introduced turbocharged inline-six. It’s supplemented by a 48-volt electric motor (a setup first seen in the new CLS53). As in the CLS53, the 3.0-liter powertrain produces a maximum of 429 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque, with the electric motor contributing up to 21 ponies and 184 lb-ft. In combination with a nine-speed torque-converter automatic and 4Matic+ all-wheel drive, the combo is good for a 4.4-second sprint to 60 mph and a 174-mph top speed, according to AMG.
Audi A7 Sportback: The Upside Down
The new interior features Audi’s latest MMI infotainment system. First seen in the 2019 A8, the system jettisons the previous version’s rotary control knob for a pair of touchscreens with audible and haptic feedback. One screen is located ahead of the gearshift lever and is used primarily for controlling HVAC functions, while the other lives higher up in the dashboard and is used for operating items such as infotainment and navigation features. Other in-cockpit tech includes an available head-up display and Audi’s 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit digital gauge cluster.
In our first drive of the new A8, we found that Audi’s touchscreen MMI interface was quick to respond to our inputs and highly configurable. Nevertheless, we missed the prior MMI system’s physical knobs and buttons, which we found easier to adjust on the fly.
Other toys pulled from the A8 include the AI Remote Parking Pilot and AI Remote Garage Pilot systems, which can autonomously move your car into and out of a garage or a parking space.
It’s Got the Power
The car debuts in a trio of familiar model designations, and the three-engine lineup includes inline-six and V-8 offerings, all fed with forced induction. The GT53 is the opening gambit and uses the carmaker’s recently introduced turbocharged inline-six. It’s supplemented by a 48-volt electric motor (a setup first seen in the new CLS53). As in the CLS53, the 3.0-liter powertrain produces a maximum of 429 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque, with the electric motor contributing up to 21 ponies and 184 lb-ft. In combination with a nine-speed torque-converter automatic and 4Matic+ all-wheel drive, the combo is good for a 4.4-second sprint to 60 mph and a 174-mph top speed, according to AMG.
Audi A7 Sportback: The Upside Down
The new interior features Audi’s latest MMI infotainment system. First seen in the 2019 A8, the system jettisons the previous version’s rotary control knob for a pair of touchscreens with audible and haptic feedback. One screen is located ahead of the gearshift lever and is used primarily for controlling HVAC functions, while the other lives higher up in the dashboard and is used for operating items such as infotainment and navigation features. Other in-cockpit tech includes an available head-up display and Audi’s 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit digital gauge cluster.
In our first drive of the new A8, we found that Audi’s touchscreen MMI interface was quick to respond to our inputs and highly configurable. Nevertheless, we missed the prior MMI system’s physical knobs and buttons, which we found easier to adjust on the fly.
Other toys pulled from the A8 include the AI Remote Parking Pilot and AI Remote Garage Pilot systems, which can autonomously move your car into and out of a garage or a parking space.
It’s Got the Power