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Car and Driver
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
Mercedes-AMG GT Track Sport Teased as Winged GT3 RS Competitor
The Mercedes-AMG GT Track Sport is a new version of the German coupe the brand just teased for the first time. According to Mercedes, it will be powered by a V-8 and is being developed to set new record drives, presumably with the Nürburgring at the top of that list. Officially, the GT Track Sport is labeled a concept, but production is likely, as the brand says it offers a "glimpse into the future of the AMG GT family." To give you an idea of where the Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe falls on the sliding scale between surgical and brutish in its demeanor, take a look at our most recent review, where we compared the 2025 GT63 S E Performance to a hippopotamus. Thankfully, despite the GT Coupe's brash nature, Mercedes-AMG hasn't given up on it and instead developed a new track-focused model aptly named the Mercedes-AMG GT Track Sport. Mercedes-AMG According to Mercedes, the new GT Track Sport is being developed "to set record new times," which we can only assume means the automaker is planning a Nürburgring attempt in the near future. No performance details are given, but with Mercedes seemingly targeting competitors like the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, upgrades are sure to be plentiful. Given the on-track performance focus of the new concept, it's likely the GT Coupe ditches the 2+2 layout in favor of a strictly two-seat design. And while the entire car is shrouded behind a camouflaged curtain, the large front splitter and aggressive swan-neck rear wing stick out as performance upgrades. Mercedes-AMG There's no word on output yet, but we do know the GT Track Sport sticks to a V-8 mill under the hood. Between the GT55 and the GT63 trims, the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 setup in the current AMG GT lineup produces between 469 and 603 horsepower. Add in the hybrid batteries of the GT63 S E Performance, and the combined output surges to 805. Mercedes-AMG Mercedes-AMG Mercedes hasn't confirmed that the GT Track Sport is actually headed for production. The model is officially labeled as a concept, but given that Mercedes says the teaser offers a "glimpse into the future of the AMG GT family," we fully expect it to enter production. Here's hoping that, despite the car's name, the Mercedes-AMG team kept its cool long enough to fill out the requisite paperwork to make the GT Track Sport road legal. Jack Fitzgerald Associate News Editor Jack Fitzgerald's love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn't afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. Read full bio
Car and Driver
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
2026 Audi RS3 Review, Pricing, and Specs
Overview Audi's smallest performance sedan is the RS3, but this little four-door is packed with performance and posh features. A turbocharged inline-five is the only engine option, making a heady 394 horsepower and a distinctive exhaust burble. Combine that with all-wheel-drive traction, and you have a recipe for brutally quick acceleration. The cabin has a premium and tech-forward vibe similar to the rest of the Audi lineup. It's not particularly spacious, however, and adults won't find the rear seat very comfortable. Cargo space is also limited, further limiting the RS3's practicality. Expert Tip: Small sports sedans are a dying breed, and the Acura Integra Type S, the BMW M235 Gran Coupe, and the Mercedes-AMG CLA-class are the RS3's only rivals. All these cars offer big thrills despite their tiny statures. What's New for 2026? Audi refreshed the RS3 just last year, so we expect to see no significant changes to the twee sports sedan for 2026. Pricing and Which One to Buy The price of the 2026 Audi RS3 is expected to start around $65,000. RS3 $65,000 (est) 0 $10k $20k $30k $40k $50k $60k $70k $80k $90k $100k The RS3 starts at around $65,000, and few options are offered. For those who plan on setting hot laps, we recommend choosing the optional Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R track tires, as their transformative properties are worth their weight in, uh, rubber. However, those who don't plan on taking their RS3 to the racetrack should stick with the standard rubber, which will likely have a longer shelf life. We'd skip the other packages, as they're mainly cosmetic. Engine, Transmission, and Performance Engine: 394-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder 394-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic 7-speed dual-clutch automatic Drivetrain: all-wheel-drive One of the most distinct elements of the RS3 is its unusual turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine rated for 394 horsepower. Its odd number of cylinders produces a unique thrumming soundtrack that is particularly pleasing to our ears. The engine pairs with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that deliberately downshifts with slight throttle inputs. The RS3's standard all-wheel-drive system includes a torque-vectoring rear differential with a drift mode that benefits from software meant to enhance stability and control at speed. Getting the RS3's tail to kick out is still as simple as selecting the RS Torque Rear driving mode. Compared with the lesser A3 and S3, the RS3 has upgraded brakes, a stiffer suspension setup, and a unique set of wheels on stickier performance tires. The 2025 RS3 we drove produced the aforementioned exhilarating sounds, and the car's feisty nature was evident at the racetrack. Plus, it was composed and comfortable when driven sedately on regular roads. 0–60-MPH Times In Comparison: The RS3's 60-mph result is identical to that of the larger—and more powerful—RS5 Sportback. View Photos Audi Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG C/D 75-mph Highway Fuel-Economy Test: 33 mpg 33 mpg EPA City Rating: 20 mpg 20 mpg EPA Highway Rating: 30 mpg The EPA hasn't released any fuel economy information for the 2026 RS3 yet, but the 2025 model earned ratings of 20 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. On our 75-mph fuel economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, the previous RS3 sedan outperformed its EPA estimate with a 33 mpg result. We haven't yet tested the 2025 model, but we expect it to perform similarly. For more information about the RS3's fuel economy, visit the EPA website. Interior, Comfort, and Cargo First Row: Inside, the RS3's passenger space is identical to that of the A3 and S3, but it has a set of more aggressively bolstered front seats. Audi endows all versions with a dashboard that looks anything but bland. A pair of high-mounted air vents face the driver and flank the instrument panel binnacle that houses a set of digital gauges. The RS3 is also available with a head-up display. Below the center touchscreen are climate controls with physical buttons, and there's a bin below them that's integrated into the center console. Second Row: Rear passenger space isn't generous, and adult riders will definitely feel the pinch. The same quilted leather upholstery that wraps the RS3's front seats covers the rear bench, which folds down in a 40/20/40 configuration for extra storage space. Cargo Capacity: That folding rear seat will come in handy if you need to haul more cargo than will fit in the RS3's smallish 11.3-inch trunk. View Photos Audi Infotainment and Connectivity Infotainment: 10.1-inch touchscreen 10.1-inch touchscreen Connectivity: Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Audio System: 15-speaker Sonos stereo The RS3 has a 10.1-inch touchscreen mounted in the middle of the dash, which can be controlled through touch inputs, buttons on the steering wheel, and voice commands. It also includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Plus, the infotainment system allows users to download third-party apps like Spotify and YouTube. Built-in navigation, a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot, and wireless phone charging are on the roster too. All models also come with a 15-speaker stereo system tuned by Sonos. Safety and Driver-Assistance Features The RS3 offers a bunch of standard driver-assistance features, including adaptive cruise control and automatic high-beam headlights. Standard Safety Features: automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control For information about the RS3's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Warranty and Maintenance Coverage Audi's limited and powertrain warranties are competitive with those of other German automakers, but the BMW 2-series Gran Coupe offers a three-year maintenance plan while the RS3 does not. Limited Warranty: four years or 50,000 miles four years or 50,000 miles Powertrain Warranty: four years or 50,000 miles four years or 50,000 miles Complimentary Maintenance: None C/D Test Results and Specs We test every vehicle we can. Data in the chart below may be for a different model year if the model remained unchanged from when we last tested it. Specifications Specifications 2025 Audi RS3 Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan PRICE (C/D EST) Base: $65,000 ENGINE turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 20-valve inline-5, aluminum block and head, port and direct fuel injection Displacement: 151 in3, 2480 cm3 Power: 401 hp @ 6500 rpm Torque: 369 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm TRANSMISSION 7-speed dual-clutch automatic DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 103.6 in Length: 178.5 in Width: 72.9 in Height: 55.8 in Passenger Volume, F/R: 48/40 ft3 Trunk Volume: 8 ft3 Curb Weight (C/D est): 3650 lb PERFORMANCE (C/D EST) 60 mph: 3.3 sec 100 mph: 8.4 sec 1/4-Mile: 11.8 sec Top Speed: 160 mph EPA FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST) Combined/City/Highway: 23/20/29 mpg More Features and Specs
Auto Express
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Get off that Porsche 911 configurator! New V8 Mercedes Concept AMG GT Track Sport is coming
The Mercedes-AMG division might be looking more heavily into electric power than ever (as evidenced by the 1,341bhp AMG GT XX concept), but the new Concept AMG GT Track Sport shows just how important internal-combustion engines remain to the brand. Teased officially for the first time, the Concept AMG GT Track Sport is based on the second-generation AMG GT sports car, which arrived in 2023. Although only a concept, we suspect it'll pave the way for a new halo car within the AMG GT line-up. In fact, Mercedes has suggested as much by saying the concept 'provides a preview of a possible expansion of the GT series with a V8 engine'. So far with the current AMG GT we've seen a 2.0-litre four-cylinder 43 model with 416bhp, and several V8-powered versions in the form of the GT 55, GT 63 and the 803bhp plug-in hybrid GT 63 E Performance. The Concept AMG GT Track Sport will likely spawn a replacement for the AMG GT Black Series or GT R Pro, as the most hardcore iteration of Mercedes' Porsche 911 GT3 RS rival. Advertisement - Article continues below Our dealer network has 1,000s of great value new cars in stock and available now right across the UK. Find your new car now… Despite the cloaking of this model, it's possible to ascertain a few key visual elements. We can clearly see this version is wider and lower, with a big splitter at the front and a huge swan-neck rear wing that wouldn't look out of place on a grid of GT3 race cars. Using what we suspect to be a more potent iteration of the 603bhp 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 in the GT 63 Pro, Mercedes-AMG says the Concept AMG GT Track Sport will set 'new standards and record times', with the latter potentially a Nürburgring lap time attempt. The brand has form here, with the old AMG GT Black Series still third in the all-time standings. If you're a fan of Mercedes-AMG, then why not head over to the Auto Express marketplace where you'll find great deals on used AMGs, from the A 35 hot hatch up to the AMG GT? It's not yet been revealed when and where the Concept AMG GT Track Sport will be officially unveiled, although the Munich Motor Show in September would seem likely.
Motor Trend
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
Next-Generation Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Prototype Ride: All Electric, Wicked Fast
The first all-electric, homegrown performance car for Mercedes-AMG is being tested with prototypes running around on the road and on tracks ahead of its launch next year. It is a big deal because the GT 4-Door successor is the first vehicle on the new AMG-EA architecture—and not repurposed from a Mercedes EV platform, like the EQE and EQS AMGs—and it is the future of the AMG performance brand. The next-gen Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door, an all-electric model on the new AMG-EA platform, offers 1,340 horsepower and aims to replicate the V-8 experience with synthetic sounds and sensations. Launching in 2026, it promises high performance with different battery sizes for varied ranges. This summary was generated by AI using content from this MotorTrend article Read Next The production car is based on the Mercedes-AMG GT XX concept which had the mandate of creating the fastest electric car. From it, the AMG flagship codenamed C590 will become the successor to the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door, the "four-door coupe" member of the otherwise two-door AMG GT sports car family. The concept was recently shown in Stuttgart. It boasts 1,340 horsepower from its three axial flux motors, has a top speed of 225 mph, and has aspirations to set track records. MotorTrend had a short ride along in one of the production prototypes for a taste of what AMG has cooked up. The car was heavily camouflaged inside and out. The point: to hear and feel this electric beast that was designed to be better than models with an internal combustion engine. New AMGs must have an edge: a unique shape and record-setting performance to stand out in their segment, said Mercedes-Benz Group Chief Technology Officer Markus Schäfer. Our Ride in the Future of AMG Our 15-minute ride with an engineer behind the wheel started in Comfort mode, engineered to provide a comfortable, stress-free and silent daily driving experience. It is programmed to have a bit of artificial sound, but not enough to dominate the experience. In the Sport+ drive mode, you get the simulated roar of a powerful V-8, complete with chirps and the burbles that make downshifting so delicious in AMG's gas-fed models. The sound comes from the car's speakers. It mixes exhaust sounds with simulated engine sounds. Race car drivers connect speed with sound—how the car sounds at a certain speed and gear is key to performance and prompts response, says head of development for the C590 Oliver Wiech, our chauffeur for the ride-along. Striking the Right Note Sound is emotional, says AMG CEO Michael Schiebe. To get the artificial sound right, executives gathered at the proving grounds near Sindelfingen and listened to some of the company's greatest cars, like the C190 (AMG GT coupe introduced in 2015 with the M178 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8) and the W204 AMG with its 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V-8. Then they met at a sound engineering studio and listened again to the sounds, analyzing it, and coming to a unanimous decision on which one they liked best. The automaker wanted to carry aspects of past cars into the future, says Schiebe. There will not be one sound for all future cars; the sound must fit the DNA of the individual model. Wiech thinks it is perfect for such a powerful electric sports car. Schiebe says he understands that not all customers will want artificial sound. 'Some customers want the performance of high-performance cars but don't want to have the roaring engine sound.' To cater to all, the driver can choose to ride quietly or with sound for a more emotional ride. Gunning It Wiech guns the car on a straight stretch and both the acceleration and sound are explosive. We emit a giggle. The axial flux motor is the V-8 of the electric motor world, says Schäfer, providing the required emotional experience, acoustics, NVH, and shifting sensation you expect from a V-8 or V-12 race-oriented AMG. For the simulated sensation of accelerating through the gears, there is a special device that fits in the seat to make it vibrate, further evoking the emotion of being in a car with an internal combustion engine. Think of a movie theater seat that rumbles with bass in sync with scenes from the flick. AMG did some test drives with hardcore V-8 drivers, and they emerged with big smiles, Schäfer said. 'We knew it was a challenge to entice hardcore V-8 fans, and a regular EV won't do it,' he said. Noise, feel, and shifting must touch the owner's emotional side. The first production car on the new AMG-EA platform is scheduled to roll out globally in 2026 with key markets like Europe, the U.S., and oversees first. It will come with different battery sizes for versions with varying ranges. The car name is expected to include the letters GT, but Schiebe said he is not confirming the official name until next year. If our short stint in the passenger seat is any indication, the performance bones are there for a reinterpretation of the GT 4-Door with axial flux motors instead of a V-8.
Car and Driver
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
We Ride in a Prototype of Mercedes-AMG's New EV and Experience Its Fake V-8 Sounds
Mercedes is well aware that the AMG performance versions of the company's existing EQ-badged electric vehicles don't look, sound, or feel like real AMGs. The admission is apparent in the new approach that AMG engineers are taking in developing the division's first purpose-built, AMG-only EV. At the reveal of the AMG GT XX concept car that previews this new Porsche Taycan–fighting electric sports sedan, we got to ride in a prototype of this vehicle that's built on the new platform. The big news is the introduction of a driving experience complete with simulated sounds, shifts, and even vibrations in an attempt to mimic the sensory experience you get when driving the V-8–powered AMGs that fans know and love. You sit low in this AMG EV, and its rakish bodywork and wide stance make it feel more like a sports car than an E-class. The prototype is equipped with staggered Michelin Pilot Sport S5 summer tires, with the rears sporting a meaty 315-mm section width. The interior was covered up in the car we rode in, and the exterior was camouflaged, but it's clear that the production version hasn't strayed too far from the GT XX concept car. Mercedes-AMG Our experience started in the Comfort driving mode, in which the AMG EV is pretty much like any other electric car in its linear power delivery with no torque interruption. It also remains silent, other than a faint whine from the electric motors. There will be other modes that maintain this familiar EV driving experience, although we didn't sample those during our ride. Sport+ mode is where things get interesting. Switching the steering-wheel-mounted dial to this setting introduces simulated engine sounds, shifts, and even vibrations that come through the seats via resonators. The idea is to re-create the feeling of driving an AMG with a V-8 engine, complete with throttle blips on "downshifts" and an overrun on the "exhaust." It plays a convincing role, with the quick shifts emulating a dual-clutch automatic's, and the engine note and exhaust sounds being remarkably similar to AMG's twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8. AMG engineers say that the goal is to offer a mode that provides the driver with more feedback when driving fast, because that's what people are used to from driving internal-combustion cars. It's meant to make drivers more comfortable driving quickly, and it's a salient point if you've ever driven a high-performance electric car and found the experience a bit uncanny due to the lack of sound and fury. Sport+ likely won't be the mode that achieves the quickest performance, however, because the powertrain does actually cut power during the simulated shifts. Mercedes-AMG Of course, this isn't the first electric car to play up the whimsy of a fake gas engine. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N employed a similar setup with simulated shifting and an adjustable soundtrack, and that car won our EV of the Year award, so clearly we like the idea when it's properly executed. It acknowledges that performance cars are often as much about their experience as their numbers, and that rings especially true in an AMG, given that this go-fast division built its name on great-sounding V-8s. Those great-sounding V-8s are still available, though, and it's fair to question why anyone seeking that experience would go for this EV with a simulated V-8 when you can get the real thing in any number of AMG products. The company even confirmed that it's working on a new V-8, so internal-combustion AMGs aren't disappearing anytime soon. But even AMG's top V-8 almost certainly won't be producing over 1300 horsepower like the AMG GT EV's all-wheel-drive, tri-motor setup promises, so clearly, AMG sees value in this EV platform's ability to push the performance envelope. We'll have to get behind the wheel and directly experience a production model to judge this new approach AMG is taking. That opportunity should be coming before long, as AMG's all-new EV is due to hit the streets in 2026. Reviewed by Joey Capparella Deputy Editor, Rankings Content Despite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City. Read full bio
