New Mercedes-AMG GT has Porsche 911 in its sights

The new AMG GT gets a hand-assembled, twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 with two power outputs.

Published On Aug 19, 2023 11:24:00 AM

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Mercedes-AMG has taken the wraps off the second-gen AMG GT at the 2023 Monterey Car Week in California. The new AMG GT is being built at the Mercedes-Benz factory in Bremen, Germany.

New GT is the fifth series-production road car to be developed ground-up by AMG
Is being built at the same facility as the latest-gen SL in Germany.
Gets a fully-variable four-wheel-drive setup

New Mercedes-AMG GT: Porsche 911, Aston Martin Vantage rival

With the new GT, Mercedes-AMG is taking renewed aim at the Aston Martin Vantage and the Porsche 911. It has been comprehensively re-engineered in a programme that has seen its development twinned with that of the latest SL, which is being built alongside the GT at the same facility.

Larger and heavier but also roomier, and arguably more practical than its predecessor, it forgoes the two-seat layout that has characterised the top-of-the-line AMG model since its introduction in 2014, for a two-plus-two interior design that, in combination with a larger and more accessible boot, aims to provide it with greater everyday functionality.

As with the closely related latest-gen SL, the second-gen GT adopts a fully-variable four-wheel-drive system as standard for the first time. It replaces the rear-wheel-drive arrangement used previously, providing the new coupe with what company's CEO Michael Schiebe describes as “a much broader spread of driving characteristics, together with greater traction and added security in all weather conditions.”

The fifth series production road car to be developed ground-up by AMG will have a newly developed body structure shared with the SL. It uses a material mix consisting of aluminium, composite fibre materials, magnesium and steel.

The new Mercedes-AMG GT will initially be sold in a choice of two guises – both featuring the company's hand-assembled, twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine. The GT 55 4Matic+ develops 476hp, while the range-topping GT 63 4Matic+ offers 585hp – both upgrades over the equivalent versions of the first-gen GT. There’s no word yet on whether the new GT will get the four-cylinder entry-level option from the SL 43 (not sold in India), but its more ‘hardcore’ billing could see it remain a V8-only proposition.

The updated engine, which Schiebe says will be made compliant with the Euro 7 emissions norms when required, operates in combination with a 9-speed AMG Speedshift automatic gearbox featuring a wet “starter” clutch in place of a conventional torque converter. Mounted directly to the end of the reworked V8, it replaces the earlier GT's seven-speed dual-clutch transaxle unit, which was sited within the rear axle assembly. Also included is an electronically controlled rear-locking differential.

Despite differing specifications, Mercedes-AMG quotes the same 1,970kg kerb weight for both of its new GT models. The 55 claims an official 0-100kph time of 3.9sec and a 295kph top speed, while the 63 offers a respective 3.2sec and 315kph, it says.

New Mercedes-AMG GT: styling, dimensions, aerodynamic details

At 4,728mm in length, 1,984mm in width and 1,354mm in height, the new coupe is 182mm longer, 45mm wider and 66mm higher than the first-generation GT. It also has a wheelbase that is 70mm longer than before, at 2,700mm.

The new AMG GT’s styling draws heavily on the first-generation model, with a traditional cab-back profile dictated by a long bonnet, curved roofline and angled liftback tailgate. Among the aerodynamic developments is a so-called "active air control system" within the grille to alter the flow of air to the engine bay, a carbonfibre element within the underbody which lowers by 40mm to create a wind-cheating Venturi effect and a retractable rear spoiler that automatically deploys at 80kph and offers up to five different wing angle positions.

Buyers can also option the new GT with an aerodynamic package. It includes small winglets on the outer sections of the front bumper and wheel arches, as well as a fixed rear wing. Both the 55 and the 63 roll on standard 20-inch wheels, shod with 295/35 (front) and 305/35 (rear) profile tyres. 21-inch wheels are available as an option.

With the SL taking the role of the earlier GT roadster, the new GT will be produced exclusively in coupe guise, with a near-identical cockpit to its soft-top sibling.

New Mercedes-AMG GT: suspension and steering

The GT receives a new aluminium double-wishbone AMG Active Ride Control suspension. It uses constantly variable electronic damping, steel coil springs and active roll stabilisation with hydraulic elements in place of conventional anti-roll bars to suppress body roll. Buyers can order an optional lift system offering an added 30mm of ground clearance.

The new coupe also adopts four-wheel steering as standard, with the rear wheels offering up to 2.5 degrees of steering angle. The brakes combine 390mm steel discs with six-piston aluminium callipers up front with 360mm steel discs and single-piston floating aluminium callipers at the rear.

New Mercedes-AMG GT: interior and features

Included among the digital appointments is a 12.3-inch instrument panel and 11.9-inch portrait-oriented infotainment display – both featuring AMG-specific graphics and menus, including a standard AMG Track Pace function that allows the driver to display up to 40 different vehicle parameters, including lap and sector times, steering angle, brake pedal actuation.

The new GT also receives an AMG Performance steering wheel and sculptured front sport seats with integrated headrests – the latter available with optional ventilation and automatically actuated side bolsters that narrow in the Sport, Sport+ and Race driving modes.

The new individual rear seats are limited in leg and headroom and are suitable for children only. They can be folded down to extend the nominal 321 litres of boot space underneath the cargo blind to up to 675 litres. By comparison, the old GT offered 285 litres, while the SL offers 213 litres.

A new AMG Dynamic Select controller offers the driver the choice of six driving modes – Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Race – and the AMG Dynamics ESC system allows the driver to alter the level of intervention across three steps.