First shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March last year but fresh from making its South African debut at the Festival of Motoring held at Kyalami in September, the GT replaces the CLS as Benz’s most sporting and dynamic four-door offering, and will go on sale in a choice of two models.

Riding on the MRA platform and incorporating a fastback take on the Sensual Purity styling language, the range kicks-off with the GT53 that produces 320kW/520Nm from its turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six petrol. Equipped with the 48-volt EQ Boost mild-hybrid system that allows for an additional 22kW/250Nm to be released for short bursts though, the GT53 will race from 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 285km/h.

Sitting at the sharp-end, the GT63 (pictured) is unsurprisingly only available in top-spec S guise, meaning that power from the 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 rises from 430kW/800Nm to a mammoth 470kW/900Nm. In its most powerful form, the GT will complete the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.2 seconds and top out at 315km/h.

While both models outfitted with a performance tuned version of the three-pointed star’s 4Matic all-wheel drive system, the GT53 relays its power to the ground via a nine-speed TCT Speedshift automatic gearbox, while the GT63 S receives the MCT version of the same ‘box.

Arriving in the second quarter of the year, pricing for the GT starts at R1 949 700 for the GT53 with the GT63 S 4Matic+ retailing from R2 905 200.