You'd expect a new generation of an established sports car to gain horsepower. A fresh new look? Practically mandatory. Advanced new suspension systems? Very necessary. A higher tech interior with more fancy features? 100 percent.
More seats? Well… that's not typically part of the refresh recipe, but for the 2024 AMG GT Coupe, debuting today in California as part of the Monterey Car Week festivities, Mercedes not only added all the above but threw in a couple of extra seats to boot. The result is a car that doesn't radically change the formula over what's come before but extends it with just a hint of additional practicality to meet the needs of those lucky enough to afford one of these.
Two extra seats plus two more driven wheels and a significant visual refresh equates to what should be a world-class experience. Let's dig into the details.
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More Power
You can't iterate on a sports car without adding power, and the new AMG GT has exactly that, as before provided by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. But, depending on which configuration you opt for, you'll have more or less shove at your disposal. At the start, there will be just two configurations available.
Go for the lower-spec AMG GT 55 4MATIC+ puts out a healthy 476 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. That's seven more ponies and 51 more lbs.ft. of torque than the current AMG GT. The result is a 0-62 mph time of 3.9 seconds. And remember, this is the slower of the two.
Step up to the AMG GT 63 4MATIC+ and you'll receive a whopping 585 hp and 590 pound-feet of torque. That's eight more horsepower than the current AMG GT R and 74 more lbs.ft. of torque! Here, the 0-62 mph time drops to 3.2 seconds.
These two are for sure just the beginning. Given the alphabet soup of configurations available in the first generation (GT C, GT S, GT R, GT R Pro...) you can bet more will come in time.
More Traction
As you can guess by the names, AMG GT 55 4MATIC+ and GT 63 4MATIC+, the new AMG GT Coupe offers all-wheel-drive in every configuration. This is a rear-biased setup, with power sent from the V-8 to the rear axle, where an active clutch modulates how much traction is sent to the front wheels. So, you can get a perfect 50:50 distribution if you like, or just send it all to the back wheels for extra grins.
At the rear, the AMG GT also features an active, limited-slip differential, ensuring that traction is fairly distributed between left and right. The front differential is open, but the car will use the ABS system to ensure wheelspin is kept in check should that be an issue.
It's all turned by a nine-speed automatic transmission but, interestingly, Mercedes has pulled the slushy torque converter and replaced it with a motorcycle-style wet clutch. This is a novel solution to creating a more responsive feel than a traditional slushbox, and a lighter one, too. Mercedes says shift times are "extremely short" but hasn't quoted any specific figures.
More Grip
The new AMG GT has a wholly new chassis. Well, new to the GT, anyway: It's shared with the AMG SL, and along with that comes new suspension. Front and rear, the AMG GT rides on an aluminum, multi-link setup that guides the 20-inch standard wheels, or 21-inchers for those who need a little less sidewall in their lives. Rear-steering is standard.
Adaptive suspension is adjustable for compression and rebound, but more significantly each damper is connected with its twin on the other side of the car. By routing hydraulic pressure from side-to-side, the car can minimize roll while still offering compliance for quick compressions like bumps and that sort of thing.
It's conceptually similar to the setup used in some McLarens and (gulp) Citroëns, and it should make for a very interesting feel behind the wheel.
More Tech
Mercedes calls the new AMG GT Coupe's interior "hyper analogue," which sounds like a lo-fi greatest hits album, but in reality is a nod to the combination of high-tech and traditional, driver-focused layout inside the thing.
A large, 11.9-inch, portrait-oriented display runs a flavor of MBUX, augmented with some AMG-specific screens that display things like vehicle performance and lap times. If you're not into the MBUX experience, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay will be on offer. More info is piped through the optional HUD, while the gauge cluster behind the wheel is fully digital and heavily customizable.
The cabin itself features customizable feature lighting, while up front the Digital Light headlights have all sorts of fun features, like illuminating lanes on the road. The LED tails, meanwhile, have a few tricks of their own, including some animations that will play to welcome an approaching driver.
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That 2+2 Configuration
Though less than a decade old, the AMG GT has already established itself as a standout choice for those looking for a high-velocity tourer with two-seats. So why the change now to add two more?
We asked Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius for a little background on the change. As it turns out, it's all about the customers: "Many customers told us: 'I want to just be able to throw my bag behind my seat. Maybe I have a dog, maybe if I have younger children... I just want to have that convenience of the 2+2. Please can't you do that?' So, now that we have done the new architecture that the SL and the GT are on, it's a from-the-ground-up new architecture, not something that comes from that original SLS, we said 'You know what? That's a good idea. Let's just do that.'"
And so they did. But, Mercedes is not locking everyone into this change. Those folding rear seats will be optional. All-wheel-drive, though, is standard. "Many people go skiing with the car," Ola told us. "So, we said, two things have to be part of the new genes of the GT: 2+2, and all-wheel-drive."
Ola believes this will not only keep existing customers happy, but expand the market for the GT. "We will still reach the performance crowd of people that just love sports cars, but we will now also reach a lot of people that, believe it or not, will use this car as their daily commute."
We asked whether there was any pushback from within the Mercedes leadership, and there was not. "Everybody was onboard from the word go," he said, then added: "When you drive it, I guarantee you're going to like it."
We are very much looking forward to finding out. As of now, no word on when I or anyone else will have that privilege, nor how much buyers will have to pay for it. But the outgoing model costs in the $115,000 ballpark, and you can for sure expect to pay a premium for all the new toys this year.