Not to be confused with the GT 4-Door Coupe, the GT Coupe is best described as the SL's hard-topped brother. The 2+2 sports tourer may weigh a lot more than Mercedes-AMG's first-generation GT, but 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive makes a world of difference in a straight line and on the racetrack.
With Uwe Sener in the driver's seat, a bone-stock GT 63 lapped Anneau du Rhin's 3.621 kilometers (make that 2.250 miles) in 1 minute 18 seconds. Otherwise put, it's faster than the SL 63's 1 minute 21 seconds. The track record for production vehicles is 1.17:80 for the 992-generation Porsche 911 Turbo, which is a bit lighter than the GT 63.
The GT's lap can be described in two ways. First and foremost, pretty darn good. But on the other hand, that understeer is certain to put off a few prospective customers. Despite rocking Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tires, the GT simply can't escape its weight. 1,970 kilograms (4,340 pounds) is a tremendous departure from the 1,590 kilograms (3,505 pounds) of the previous-gen GT S Coupe.
Be that as it may, there is reason to Merc's insanity, beginning with 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive. The AMG-specific system makes the GT 63 quicker to 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour) than its predecessor, and all-wheel drive further helps in the corners, especially in wet conditions. The mad professors in Affalterbach also dropped the dual-clutch transaxle in favor of a wet-clutch automatic that better suits the GT's grand touring character.
The actual reasoning behind the SPEEDSHIFT MCT nine-speed automatic transmission, comes in the form of 4MATIC+ and the forthcoming 63 S E PERFORMANCE version. The plug-in hybrid twin-turbo V8 setup develops a staggering 805 horsepower in the SL forthcoming 63 S E PERFORMANCE, with peak torque estimated at a ludicrous 1,047 pound-feet (that'd be 1,420 Nm).
Photo: Mercedes
We also have to remember that moving the GT to the SL's platform enabled more passenger and cargo space. Over in the United States, the 2024 Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe is advertised with 23.8 cubic feet (674 liters) with the rear seats lowered.
Due to arrive in dealer showrooms this spring, the GT 55 can be yours for $134,900 at the very least. Stepping up to the GT 63 means $175,900 sans destination and delivery charge, which adds $1,150 to the final price. For model year 2025, the GT will be watered down by the four-cylinder 43 series. Although it may be fitted with a handcrafted AMG engine, said 2.0-liter turbocharged mill is wrong on so many levels in this vehicle. The same can be said about the 671-horsepower C 63 S E Performance.
The GT 43 will be a hard sell in both the United States and back home in Europe, where the Ford Motor Company discontinued the four-cylinder Mustang at the end of 2020 due to poor take-up rate. Think 15 percent of the mix, and that is hardly surprising. Europeans associate the Mustang with big V8 power, whereas AMG made a name for itself with burbly V8s in cars such as the W204 C 63.
It will get even worse, though, because AMG is developing a replacement for the GT 4-Door Coupe in the form of an electric liftback. The newcomer is based on the AMG.EA platform, and hearsay suggests in the ballpark of 1,000 horsepower.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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