What is the world’s greatest four-door grand tourer? Well, it’s quite probably one of these.

The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S has long been one of our favourite big sporting bruisers. It has a 4.0-litre twin turbocharged V8 making 630bhp and 664lb ft, which is good enough to propel this 2045kg machine from 0-62mph in 3.2sec and o to 196mph.

It also returns 21.9mpg and 298g/km but given it costs £146,785, perhaps you’re not counting.

It now, though, gets a new rival. The Alpina B8 Gran Coupe, Alpina’s loose take on a BMW M850i.

It too is very fast and very powerful. It has a 4.4-litre V8 engine making 613bhp and 590lb ft, which is good for a 201mph top speed, and a 0-62mph time of 3.4sec.

Its economy and emissions are 23.9mpg and 270g/km. And it costs £134,950.

Which, though, best blends the qualities you’d be looking for in a four-door grand tourer – speed, comfort, space for occupants and, crucially, being entertaining to drive? Join Road Tester Richard Lane as he oversees the verdict.
New videos are uploaded to Autocar each week. Don’t miss a single one. Subscribe now: http://smarturl.it/autocar

Visit our website at http://www.autocar.co.uk

Autocar, the world’s leading motoring magazine and website, delivers industry-leading news, the most in-depth car reviews and opinion from our team of experts. Our presenters include some of the world’s top motoring journalists who have unrivalled access to the world’s fastest, rarest, most exotic and most exciting cars on some of the world’s best roads and race tracks.

Follow AUTOCAR here:
LIKE Autocar on Facebook: https://bit.ly/2Jzyvh1
FOLLOW Autocar on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2JzABgT
FOLLOW Autocar on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2TIgvFI

Check out our full video catalog: https://bit.ly/1UfAOCH

For car reviews you can trust, subscribe to Autocar: http://smarturl.it/autocar