2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG® GT C – The One You’ll Want to Love Forever!

The 2020 lineup for the Mercedes-Benz AMG® V8 sports car is pretty intriguing. The two-seat car is praised for its performance, features, and the value of money it offers in the sports car segment, a segment that itself is quite condensed. 

Let’s begin with a refresher for 2019, when Mercedes-Benz grabbed the GT, tweaked it a little, and left us mesmerized with the results. The old SLS was a hard act to follow, but then the skunk works at AMG® worked their magic like always, and we were on our toes with excitement given how these GTs performed. 

We took the AMG® GT C out for a spin to see all that it offers and understand the sort of clientele it caters to, and, given how impressed we were with the ‘base’ GT, we were eager to see what the next iteration would hold for us. 

Under the Hood

It’s no secret the 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG® GT C is a fettled version of the already impressive GT. With the same twin-turbo V8 engine, the GT C offers more oomph in terms of speed, power, and raw appeal. Instantly, you’d know it is more serious, more composed, and a lot faster. 

How fast? 

Let’s start with the power – while the base model offered 469 HP, the GT C’s power meter goes up to a meaty 550 HP, with 502 lbs-ft of torque delivered through the same 7-speed dual-clutch transmission we adore. 

This gives the GT C better acceleration, going from zero to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds, and top speed is now 196 mph compared to the GT’s 189. 

If you’re hungry for even more performance, consider the GT R then. With this track-focused variation, you’ll get 577 HP with 516 lbs-ft of torque and a top speed above 198 mph to play with.  

The Driving Experience

The extra power from the GT C is noticeable the instant you turn the key in the ignition – the twin-turbo V8 sounds more eager and gets even sharper when you select Sport+ or Race on the driving selector. This noticeable change in driving dynamics gives the GT C different personalities, depending on how you want to drive you have several modes to choose from. 

You can choose Comfort (default mode), and the GT C becomes a regular Mercedes-Benz, comfortable, quiet, and subtly powerful. 

Another turn on the drive mode selector and the car changes its personality instantly. 

The other driving modes, Sport, Sport+, and Race, take GT C from a gentle highway cruiser to a track performer. 

The Race mode is quite aggressive, and the one we loved the most – it dials the GT C all the way up to 11 on a scale of 10, turning it into a beast of a car. The exhaust note gets louder than ever, gear shifts are even quicker, and the car feels lighter to help navigate through bends and curves.

On the track, the GT C showcased how AMG® worked its magic by injecting driving dynamics seen on Mercedes-Benz GT4 cars. 

On the Inside

On the inside is where you’ll see that not a lot has changed from the GT.

The GT C has nearly the same 10-inch screen and infotainment system as the GT. However, the interior has gone through a significant overhaul for the 2020 models, with several boosts to technology and connectivity. 

The center console is home to the AMG® DYNAMIC SELECT® that helps tune the car’s character as well as its traction control system, adaptive suspension, and exhaust controls. 

The digital instrument cluster shows more information regarding the car, along with options to customize the interface. 

The steering wheel is covered in Nappa leather and comes equipped with touch-sensitive controls for controlling and changing driving dynamics, setting up adaptive cruise control, and other essential functions. 

With the 2020 GT series, you will feel the cabin is more spacious than before, and there is plenty of legroom. The seats are comfortable enough for daily driving and firm enough to help enjoy a day at the track.

The Experience of Owning A 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG® GT C

If given a choice between the GT, the GT C, and the track-focused GT R, many would choose the GT C in a heartbeat. 

Even though we love the extra grunt offered by the R variation, it may be harder for one to envision ourselves with it on a day to day basis. 

The GT R was meant to demolish tracks and scare other supercars into their paddocks, while the GT and the GT C are tailored more towards everyday driving with track abilities. Then there’s the GT R’s suspension, which is a bit too firm for daily driving compared to the softer, more forgiving set up in both the GT and the GT C. 

The 2020 models are already looking great – the muscular stance, the front splitter, the air inlets, and the optional wing on the GT C will get attention no matter where you go.

 Put in an extra ten grand to get carbon-ceramic brakes on your GT C, just like the ones on the GT R. 

We don’t live on the race tracks, but we’d still opt for the GT C in solar beam yellow paint since it reminds us of the SLS Black Series. 

Owning a GT C is great because it delivers more power, is more capable and more desirable too. The handcrafted twin-turbo V8 is a work of art and has already seen success in racing for Mercedes-Benz, and we strongly believe ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ 

The Verdict

The 2020 V8 sports car range from Mercedes-Benz is one of the best we’ve tested in years. If we felt something was missing from the previous models, the magic is back this time around. 

Remember the good old days of AMG® tuned Mercedes-Benz featuring powerful V8s? The GT lineup now pays homage to what makes petrolheads like us happy driving cars powered by internal combustion.

Sure, turbocharging is better on paper, but sometimes the essence of driving is often overlooked in favor of efficiency. 

With the AMG® GT series, Mercedes-Benz brings back the spirit of driving with the V8 in all its glory while giving us a performance that rivals most supercars of today. And all this performance is cocooned in a wonderful package of style, comfort, and everyday civility.