The Mercedes-Benz AMG® GT and the Audi R8 are the highest performing vehicles of their respective brands. Actually, they are two of the highest performing vehicles in the world across any brand. Especially for 2017, there are few competitors that can keep up with these cars, both on paper, and on tarmac. The Mercedes-Benz AMG® GT S is the middle of three GT Coupe trims for Mercedes-Benz and the Audi R8 is the base model of two powerful trims for Audi. They share many characteristics, but actually, the only thing these cars have in common is the vision of unbeatable performance.

The first major difference between these two monsters is the engine. Not necessarily the type or size, but the location. The Mercedes-Benz AMG® GT S relies on a traditional layout with the engine sprawled out in front of the driver. In the Audi, the engine is hidden in the back. Of course, having a mid-engine vehicle is ideal for performance, but being the perfect daily driver is one of the things that makes Mercedes-Benz AMG® such a tough competitor.

2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG® GT S Coupe	VS	2017 Audi R8 V10
$131,200	MSRP	$162,900
4.0L biturbo V8	Engine	5.2L V10
RWD	Drivetrain	AWD
503/479	HP/Torque	540/398
3.7 Seconds/198 MPH	0-60/Top Speed	3.5 Seconds/199 MPH

Built For Drivers

The Mercedes-Benz AMG® GT S was envisioned, designed, built, tested, and practiced on the race tracks. Its goal in life is not just to get around the track the fastest, but also to give the driver complete control. From DYNAMIC SELECT® driving modes to the transmission modes, the GT S is a car that can be customized to meet the needs and wants of every driver. In 2015, it was even awarded Best Driver's Car by Motor Trend!

On the other side of the comparison, the R8 is a supercar that was designed to be easy to drive by any driver. This means it can accelerate faster and favors the amateur adrenaline junkie, but to really get the most out of a car with more than 500 horsepower, you and your car need to trust each other equally. With the R8, all the trust is sandbagged by the car, which is less rewarding at the end of the day. If you have any questions about why the GT S is a better investment than the R8, come to Mercedes-Benz of Scottsdale to get behind the wheel!