Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door Coupé electric gets V8 vibrations and artificial sound

If European regulations remain unchanged, V8 engines could be heading towards extinction. Mercedes-AMG, however, appears unwilling to give up the sensory experience that sets them apart. Its answer for the new electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door Coupé is as technological as it is unusual: a haptic system featuring a vibrator that works in sync with acceleration, simulated gear changes and artificial sound.

The feature is part of the new “AMGFORCE S+” mode, developed specifically to recreate the driving experience of a traditional AMG V8. According to the German marque, the system delivers an “extremely authentic V8 sound experience”, paired with an “immersive haptic experience”.

These actuators produce low-frequency vibrations synchronised with the car’s behaviour. Combined with the artificial soundtrack and simulated shifts, they create a mechanical illusion that is far more convincing than what has so far been seen in most electric vehicles.

In practice, the car physically vibrates during acceleration, downshifts and simulated gear changes. The aim is not simply to hear an artificial V8 through the speakers, but to feel it too. Launch Control illustrates just how far AMG has taken the concept. Once activated, the seat belts tighten automatically, the ambient lighting changes, the audio system switches to a dedicated mode and the vehicle “starts vibrating noticeably”, according to the brand’s official statement.

More than 1600 sound files

Most notably, Mercedes-AMG has not merely fitted a conventional sound generator. The system uses more than 1600 audio files, processed in real time to reproduce different driving scenarios.

According to the manufacturer, every sound element is split into short granular loops, which are dynamically blended according to speed, accelerator position, battery charge, lateral acceleration and use of the steering-wheel paddles.

AMG chose the sound of the twin-turbo V8-powered AMG GT R as its acoustic foundation. From there, the system recreates idling, gear changes, downshifts and even momentary torque interruptions to mimic the gearshift sensation of a traditional AMG SPEEDSHIFT transmission.

Hyundai had already taken a similar route with the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N, which simulates gear changes and combustion-engine sound. AMG, though, appears to be taking the idea further by integrating the entire physical and sensory experience into the car’s chassis itself.