Car and motorcycle

From Winteler, Mercedes-AMG GT, all-round sportiness

March 08 2024

By the Staff

New car, it comes with the 2+2 coupé bodywork with tailgate: it grows in versatility and comfort, maintaining a sharper ride. The powerful 8 biturbo V4.4 remains the protagonist

GT Coupé, second act. The Mercedes-AMG GT flagship for dynamism and driving refinement reaches its second generation, ready to receive all the attention it deserves from its selected target audience. The model is entirely new and this time it shares the development platform with the latest SL, already developed entirely by the Mercedes sports division: the mission of the new born is to extend its qualities of versatility and usability, while maintaining unsurpassed qualities of dynamic quality. Combination of intentions made possible, in the foreground, by the new conformation of the bodywork with a tapered tail equipped with a compact tailgate and 2+2 internal accommodation, a solution that opens the doors to all-round use: more comfortable and appreciable even outside of the track, the latter environment which however remains completely suitable for the car, if not a priority.

The cockpit actually shines in a new light, combining more overall airiness with refined piloting ergonomics; materials, workmanship, finishes and equipment are extremely refined, in a high-luxury hi-tech ensemble. The front area enhances the driving position, with a low and integrated driver position; in the centre, the vertical 11,9" multifunction screen stands out. Wrap-around front seats with integrated headrests are already provided as standard, with the more rigid AMG Performance seats with more lateral support as an option. At the back, the two folding seats are suitable for people up to 1,5 meters tall, also acting as an additional area for personal luggage in addition to the rear compartment. The area is served by the large automatically opening door.

The technical and technological refinements of new GT receive equal development and evolution. The body is made of aluminium, while various structural and bodywork components adopt lightweight materials including magnesium, fiberglass and carbon; the front and rear multi-link light alloy suspensions are completed with electronically controlled hydraulic elements for active roll regulation when cornering. Four-wheel steering is also standard. Aerodynamics plays an equally fundamental role by also relying on active elements, which ensure an increase in the aerodynamic load as the speed increases: at the rear there is a retractable retractable wing, while at the front in the area lower than the bumper strip a profile works in carbon which descends 40 mm towards the ground, starting from 80 km/h, to accentuate the Venturi effect generated by the flat bottom of the car.

The propulsive heart of the splendid GT Coupé remains the consolidated 4,4-litre twin-turbo V-eight cylinder, as usual assembled entirely by hand by a single operator who thus "signs" its workmanlike execution: in the top version 63, in addition to the power close to six hundred horsepower, the unit stands out for the powerful torque of 800 Nm available from 2500 rpm. The GT 55 uses the same engine, which however stops at 476 hp and 700 Nm respectively. In both cases, the Performance 4MATIC+ permanent all-wheel drive with active torque distribution (50:50% between the two axles with rear-wheel drive only ) includes the limited-slip rear differential, while the nine-speed dual-clutch Speedshift MCT gearbox is further optimized to offer very quick and crisp shifts.