MercedesAMG GT 55

FIRST DRIVE With no hybrid assistance for its V8, does this edition of the new Porsche 911 rival prove that less is more?

- Alex Ingram

THIS is Mercedes-AMG's flagship sports car, the GT, and for its second generation, there's a wide range of models to choose from.

The flagship GT 63 S E Performance edition offers insane straight-line performance courtesy of its mix of V8 and electrical power, while at the base of the range there's a four-cylinder turbo in the GT 43.

Between those two are a pair of good old-fashioned V8s; there's no hybrid assistance, no big batteries, just a noisy 4.0-litre engine with lots of cylinders backed up by a pair of turbochargers. Here we have the marginally less potent option, the AMG GT 55, which sits below the GT 63. And it’s clear from the off that this is the sweet spot of the range.

The V8 isn't at its most outlandish here, but it’s still hardly short of poke – power stands at 469bhp, while peak torque is 700Nm. With drive sent via all four wheels, it’s enough for a 0-62mph time of 3.8 seconds. That's six tenths down on the 63 and a second off the hybrid 63 E Performance, but when we mashed the right pedal to the floor and felt the furious shove from that V8 in our backs, it really didn't feel like it needed any more power.

And it’s made all the better by the devilish soundtrack. Emissions regulations may have done their best to dampen the noise coming from those quad exhausts, but this is still a thunderous, thrilling engine - and the AMG GT's biggest selling point.

With drive sent to all four wheels, you can use much of that power, too. As a tool for covering ground quickly, this is a very effective car. The suspension copes with bumps better than some rivals at low speeds, while high-speed refinement - apart from a little road noise – is great, too.