Are fastbacks the new sports car? 

It’s rare when both ‘hot’ and ‘cool’ can be used as adjectives to describe the same vehicle, but the new AMG GT Concept is quintessentially both. It’s ‘hot red’ paint, combined with a special finish, makes the car look like liquid metal or rolling lava — steamy — while its performance figures could easily make you sweat, with its 4.0-litre V8 bi-turbo petrol engine and a high-performance modular battery electric motor working together to create 805bhp and a 0–60 time of less than three seconds. And although shooting brakes, estates, and fastbacks may not have always been considered cool — remember mom-mobiles and family wagons? — the evolution has started with the Ferrari FF, and now with the introduction of the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo and the AMG GT Concept, it seems that anything with a greenhouse can be considered cool.

As of now, the AMG GT is being presented as a concept, and even if it doesn’t go into production, it’s presence at the Geneva Motor Show will provide some sneak-peek insights on exterior design features to be featured on future production models, including more muscular proportions, innovative drive systems, the EQ Power+ moniker for all hybrids, and nano fibre technology for enhanced daytime running lights and turn signals.

Photos: Mercedes-Benz