MERCEDES-AMG GT
After a lacklustre 2023, you’d be forgiven for thinking Mercedes-AMG had lost its way. The new GT tells different story
There was a fair bit of nail-biting going on during the run-up to this drive. After all, Merc’s recent run of high-performance cars hasn’t been overly blessed with gongs: the hyped four-cylinder C63 PHEV fell short of expectations; the latest SL turned out to be poorly packaged and dynamically off-kilter; and the AMG versions of the EQE and EQS aren’t the sub-brand’s finest hours either. And this new GT, which shares much with the SL, promises the unappetising combination of a 270kg weight gain and the loss of the coveted transaxle layout for a less charismatic all-wheel-drive chassis.
The new GT 63’s power output of 577bhp from a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 matches the R version of the previous GT, but length, width, height and wheelbase have all gone up substantially. So yes, good news if you want a decently roomy 321 litres of boot capacity, accessed via a practical hatchback opening, but maybe not what you want to hear if you’re in search of a high-performance grand tourer.
UK pricing hasn’t been finalised, but we’re expecting it to be somewhere in the region of £160,000 for the 63, and closer to £125k for the other version available next year, the 55. Like the 63, the 55 has a 4.0-litre V8 driving all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission. The 55’s peak of 461bhp gives it a 3.9sec 0-62mph time, against the 63’s 3.2.
These are pretty impressive numbers, but then the price puts the GT up against some pretty impressive rivals, not least the Porsche 911 Turbo and the Maserati GranTurismo. And yet driving the new GT 63 is a very agreeable surprise. It’s stiffer than its predecessor, it’s quicker off the mark and just as importantly you feel more in control. That has a lot to do with the driving position, now further forward, which gives noticeably improved visibility.
At a glance, the cockpit barely differs from the SL’s, with the same fusion of trad luxury and digital near-overkill. But closer inspection reveals that the GT offers additional bespoke colours, eight different screen designs and seven shades of soft nappa leather. It’s a beautifully made and lavishly appointed interior.
There are six drive modes plus four drivetrain calibrations, four AMG Dynamic Select options, three ESP settings, and your choice of all- or rear-wheel drive, launch control and drift mode. When you don’t feel like playing, cylinder deactivation and lift-off coasting lighten the load on the environment.
It’s easy to get the set-up wrong. Take, for instance, the relatively heavy steering, which becomes more agi
