What's all this about?

Mercedes-AMG is persevering with the GT coupe, the sports coupe with the thumping V8 engine that’s designed to rival the Porsche 911. Larger than its predecessor, the AMG GT is designed to offer more everyday usability than the old car, providing the option of two occasional rear seats and a standard all-wheel-drive system.

Bigger, you say?

Yep. Mercedes-AMG calls it an “expanded dimensional concept”, allowing the German company to offer the GT with the option of 2+2 seating. It’s also more futuristically styled than its admittedly glamorous predecessor, with a relatively long wheelbase and short overhangs. Recessed door handles and a fastback rear roofline keep the design clean, while there’s an ‘active’ deployable spoiler.

Inside, meanwhile, the car gets a new central touchscreen that measures 11.9 inches from corner to corner. Mercedes-AMG says the whole dashboard is designed around the driver, but the touchscreen is the dominant feature, even if it works in tandem with the digital instrument display.

Sounds high-tech...

Mercedes says it is, but then the manufacturer would, wouldn’t it? We do know that it comes with an AMG Performance menu that can display all sorts of parameters, including power output, torque and lateral acceleration. If you want, you can even see the oil pressure in the active roll stabilisation system.

There’s a capacitive display button on the control bar below the central display, too, offering the driver the chance to select various functions including driving modes, media volume and assistance functions.

There’s an optional head-up display, too, which is linked to the ambient lighting that offers a choice of 64 different colours. The head-up display’s background comes in seven different colours, each of which is assigned to an ambient lighting colour.

Anything else?

Of course. Mercedes-AMG has used tech to improve performance, too, with active aerodynamics intended to provide “good balance and high efficiency”. That includes a new ‘Airpanel’ active control system, with two separate parts. The first part operates behind the lower air intake in the front apron, while the second part is located behind the upper air intake. Normally, all the slats are closed for minimum drag, but when certain temperatures are reached the slats open for cooling purposes.

Similarly, the rear spoiler is housed in the boot lid and can be raised to one of five different angular positions to improve downforce or reduce drag as necessary. And there’s an underbody aero element under the floor, too, reducing lift on the front axle.

What about performance?

We wondered when this would crop up. As before, the AMG GT is available with the 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 petrol engine, which will be offered in a choice of two versions. The ‘basic’ GT 55 model has 476hp, while the range-topping ‘63’ model provides a meaty 585hp. Both engines come with automatic transmissions and all-wheel drive, allowing the 63 to get from 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds, while the ‘55’ gets to 62mph in 3.9 seconds.

The all-wheel-drive system gets some natty tech, too, with fully variable torque distribution across the front and rear axle through an electromechanically operated clutch. And that just happen when the rear wheels begin to loose traction – the AMG GT uses the all-wheel-drive system to “improve longitudinal dynamics for even more powerful acceleration”.

And handling?

The GT comes with Active Ride Control suspension designed to reduce roll in corners using active shock absorbers. It also tunes its behaviour depending on the drive mode, allowing the car to “steer very precisely”. That’s combined with rear-axle steering that steers in the opposite direction to the front wheels below 62mph, improving agility, while above 62mph the wheels steer in the same direction as those at the front for better stability. Mercedes-AMG has also fitted high-performance brakes made from composite for lightness, while the construction saves space, allowing better brake cooling.

Sounds good. When can I have one?

Mercedes-AMG hasn’t announced specifications or pricing, but we’re expecting a six-figure starting price for the new coupe. When it will arrive is not yet clear, but we’re expecting it around Christmastime. Not a bad present.

James Fossdyke - 20 Aug 2023