Back in the olden days, the Mercedes-AMG GT was exclusively rear-wheel drive. Redesigned from the ground up on the SL's platform, the all-new GT features rear-wheel drive only if you're content with a four-cylinder turbo instead of a twin-turbo eight.
Certain enthusiasts may think to themselves how the mighty have fallen, but looking at the bigger picture, the second-generation model is more grand tourer than sports car. Both in a straight line and in the twisties, 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive makes a whole lot of sense. However, the rumor mill suggests that a GT 63-based performance version with rear-wheel drive will be revealed for MY25.
Unfortunately, the German automaker did not confirm or deny the aforementioned rumor. Our spy photographers may have captured the purported rear-drive version with minimal camo on the front bumper, and its more aggressive front end certainly suggests performance. Additional intakes also need to be noted, their purpose being improved cooling for the carbon-ceramic brakes.
The bronze-painted calipers are joined by a set of black wheels featuring thin double spokes. In a similar fashion to the C and R versions of the first-generation GT, the newcomer might also boast forged alloy wheels in a bid to reduce unsprung weight. Otherwise put, weight not supported by the vehicle's suspension system. In addition to wheels, unsprung weight also includes tires and brakes.
Further gifted with the AMG Aerodynamic Package-specific fixed rear wing, larger aerodynamic diffuser, and flics, the mystery version should be slotted between the 63 and the yet-unreleased 63 S E Performance plug-in hybrid. Some may be tempted to think that AMG is working on the GT 63 S rather than a rear-wheel-drive brother for the GT 63, but given the lack of an SL 63 S, the RWD take seems more plausible.
Photo: Baldauf
Advertised for the 2024 model year in the United States market, the GT 63 uses the M177 twin-turbo V8 as opposed to the dry-sump M178 of the first generation. Mercedes-AMG says that it's good for 577 horsepower and 590 pound-feet (800 Nm) of torque at 2,500 through 5,000 revolutions per minute. In combination with the AMG Speedshift MCT, said lump requires merely 3.2 seconds to propel the 63 from zero to 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour).
North American customers are presented with the 55 as well, which uses a downtuned M177 rated at 469 horsepower and 516 pound-feet (700 Nm) between 2,250 and 4,500 revolutions per minute. Considering that Aston Martin squeezed out 697 ponies and 663 pound-feet (900 Nm) from said engine in the DBX707, there's no denying that Merc could bolster the GT lineup with the GT 63 S.
The big-daddy GT 63 S E PERFORMANCE is believed to launch for the 2025 model year with the very same 805-hp rating as the SL 63 S E PERFORMANCE. The most powerful roadster developed in Affalterbach can be driven 13 kilometers or 8 miles in zero-emission mode.
As for the four-cylinder GT 43, which is a 2025 model in the United States, 416 horsepower and 369 pound-feet (500 Nm) at 3,250 to 5,000 revolutions per minute will have to make do. Similarly to the M177, the M139 in the rear-drive GT 43 is hand-assembled by Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach.
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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