Marking a significant milestone in the illustrious history of Mercedes AMG, the second-generation AMG GT Coupé emerges as the crown jewel of the brand’s lineup. This latest iteration is a symphony of high-octane performance and everyday versatility, a feat that only a select few can achieve in the realm of luxury sports cars.

Exterior design: Muscular but Sleek

The design evolution of the AMG GT Coupé seamlessly melds modern aesthetics with the iconic essence of a sports car. The designers were granted new creative freedoms thanks to the extended dimension concept, which includes the novel option of 2+2 seating. The car’s elongated wheelbase, coupled with succinct overhangs and a sharply raked windshield, imbues it with a compact yet potent stance.

Its well-balanced proportions, featuring a dynamic greenhouse, voluminous wheel arches, and an assertive frontal aspect, signify its dual nature of raw power and everyday usability.

From the side, the AMG GT Coupé is defined by smooth surfaces, devoid of any unnecessary lines or edges, leading down to its seamlessly integrated door handles. The rear of the car is particularly striking, characterized by its sculpted shoulders, adding to its sports car allure.

The body-hugging light-alloy wheels amplify its dynamism and power. One of the car’s most notable features is its active rear spoiler, which is subtly integrated into the expansive tailgate.

At the front, the AMG-specific radiator grille stands out with its commanding presence. The distinctive headlights, standard with DIGITAL LIGHT technology, augment the car’s unique character. The daytime running lights, marked by the iconic three ‘light dots’ signet, enhance the car’s recognizability.

The headlights’ darkened interiors, adorned with brushed surfaces, align with the luxurious Performance design. The lower air intake broadens the front visually, while the robust power domes on the bonnet complete the sporty facade.

The car’s rear design is characterized by its low, rounded form, with an active, retractable spoiler adding to its dynamic silhouette. The wheel arches are precisely crafted, contrasting with the clean, expansive surfaces. This distinct shoulder design achieves a perfect balance between elegance and sportiness.

The horizontal LED rear lights, with their clear and precise graphics, are harmoniously integrated into the design. These lights, in tandem with the front lights, feature a three-dimensional ‘light dots’ signet and come standard with dynamic running lights and the ‘coming home/leaving home’ animation. The rear’s striking look is rounded off with an expressive diffuser and twin tailpipe trims.

Interior Aesthetics: The Fusion of Analog and Digital in the AMG GT Coupé

The interior of the new AMG GT Coupé is a masterful blend of AMG’s sports car heritage and modern digital advancements. It reflects a commitment to luxury, evidenced by the quality of materials, precision craftsmanship, and meticulous attention to detail.

The design of the cockpit, down to the central display on the console, is driver-focused, fostering a cohesive and immersive driving environment. The digital instrument cluster is artfully embedded within a three-dimensional visor, enhancing the car’s futuristic appeal.

Enhanced Space and Practicality: The New Dimension Concept

The optional 2+2 seating arrangement in the AMG GT Coupé enhances interior spaciousness, offering increased comfort and utility. The rear seats are designed for practical daily use, comfortably accommodating individuals up to 1.5 meters in height.

The incorporation of the EASY PACK tailgate, complete with HANDSFREE ACCESS, simplifies the loading and unloading process. The versatility of the interior is further enhanced by foldable rear seat backrests, providing additional storage space as needed.

The Chassis: A Study in Lightweight Efficiency

At the heart of the GT Coupé’s agile performance is its lightweight composite aluminum structure. The strategic use of materials such as aluminum, steel, magnesium, and fiber composites results in exceptional stiffness without the burden of excessive weight. This optimized structure accommodates essential comfort and safety features, advanced technology, and a generous luggage compartment.

Additional enhancements include an aluminum underbody thrust field and integrated struts at both the front and rear of the vehicle. The use of a magnesium instrument panel and a lock bridge made from a fiber composite material, combining glass fibers and carbon, exemplifies the engineers’ commitment to the ideal material mix.

Balanced Aerodynamics for Optimal Performance

The aerodynamic design of the new AMG GT Coupé was a focal point of development, aiming for a perfect balance between minimal drag and reduced lift. The car benefits from sophisticated active aerodynamic elements at both the front and rear, seamlessly integrated into its exterior design.

The aerodynamics addresses the complex requirements of driving stability, drag reduction, cooling efficiency, and noise control, ensuring optimal aerobalance for high-speed stability without compromising dynamic handling.

A technical marvel in aerodynamic engineering is the two-part, active AIRPANEL air control system. The first part, behind the lower air intake in the front apron, operates with vertical louvers, while the second, behind the upper air intake, features horizontal louvers. These louvres remain closed under normal conditions, reducing drag and directing airflow under the car to diminish forward lift.

They open only when necessary for maximum cooling airflow to the heat exchangers (the second system activates above 180 km/h).

Additionally, the AMG GT Coupé features a patent-protected, active aerodynamic element in the underbody in front of the engine. This carbon profile automatically lowers by approximately 40 millimeters at speeds over 80 km/h, creating the Venturi effect that significantly reduces front axle lift. The driver experiences this through more precise cornering and enhanced lane stability.

The extendable rear spoiler, another active component, is integrated into the boot lid. It adjusts its position based on various driving conditions, considering factors such as speed, acceleration, and steering. The spoiler can adopt five different angles above 80 km/h to either optimize driving stability or minimize drag.

An optional aerodynamics package is available, which includes additional elements such as front flicks, side flicks on the rear apron, a larger diffuser attachment, and a fixed rear wing. This package further reduces front axle lift while increasing rear-axle downforce.

Exceptional Power: The AMG 4.0-Litre V8 Biturbo Engine

At the core of the AMG GT Coupé’s remarkable performance are two variants of the AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine. Assembled with meticulous care following the ‘one man, one engine’ principle at the Affalterbach facility, these engines epitomize precision engineering. The top-tier AMG GT 63 4MATIC+ model delivers an impressive 430 kW (585 hp) and a peak torque of 800 Nm.

Its performance is breathtaking, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds, and reaching a top speed of 315 km/h. The AMG GT 55 4MATIC+ model produces 350 kW (476 hp) and 700 Nm of torque, achieving 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 295 km/h.

For the AMG GT Coupé, the engine has undergone significant enhancements compared to its predecessor, including a new oil pan, repositioned intercooler, and active crankcase ventilation. Optimizations to the intake and exhaust systems have been made for more effective gas exchange, and the exhaust routing for the catalytic converter and petrol particulate filter has been expanded.

The increased performance of the AMG GT 63 4MATIC+ model is primarily achieved through higher boost pressure, increased airflow, and modified engine software, ensuring potent performance across all engine speed ranges, along with optimal fuel efficiency and emission control.

Innovative Transmission: The AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9 G

The AMG GT Coupé’s transmission is the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9 G, which offers an exhilarating shifting experience coupled with exceptionally fast shift times. Specifically engineered for the new GT, it replaces the traditional torque converter with a wet start clutch, reducing weight and enhancing responsiveness, particularly during sprints and load changes.

Advanced Drivetrain: AMG Performance 4MATIC+ All-Wheel Drive

Equipped as standard in both V8 models is the AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive. This innovative system blends the benefits of various drive concepts, offering a balance between safety, traction, and dynamic driving, even with the ESP switched on. In ESP Sport and ESP® OFF modes, the drive distribution is even more rear-biased.

The transition between rear-wheel and all-wheel drive is seamless, based on a sophisticated matrix integrated into the vehicle’s overall system architecture.

The system’s electromechanically controlled clutch variably connects the rear axle to the front axle, continuously calculating the optimal torque distribution. This flexibility enables a range of driving options, from a balanced all-wheel drive to pure rear-wheel drive, enhancing traction, lateral dynamics, and longitudinal dynamics for more powerful acceleration.

The Drift mode allows the coupé to operate as a rear-wheel drive across the entire speed range.

Agility and Stability: Active Rear-Axle Steering

Standard in the new AMG GT Coupé is the active rear-axle steering. Below 100 km/h, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels, enhancing agility. Above 100 km/h, they turn in the same direction, increasing stability.

This system offers both nimble handling and stable control, characteristics that are often contrasting in vehicles without rear-axle steering. The benefits extend to reduced steering effort due to a more direct steering ratio at the front.

The AMG high-performance composite braking system ensures outstanding deceleration and precise control. It is characterized by short braking distances, responsive feel, and high stability under extreme conditions. The composite brake discs, lighter than traditional ones, benefit driving dynamics and steering response due to reduced unsprung mass.

The brake disc design, combining cast steel and aluminum, improves brake cooling and responds faster in wet conditions, enhancing surface cleaning after braking.

Diverse Driving Modes and AMG DYNAMICS: Tailored Driving Experience

The AMG GT Coupé offers six AMG DYNAMIC SELECT driving modes: ‘Slippery’, ‘Comfort’, ‘Sport’, ‘Sport +’, ‘Individual’, and ‘RACE’. These modes enable a broad spectrum of vehicle characteristics, ranging from comfortable to highly dynamic, allowing for a personalized driving experience suited to varying conditions.

AMG DYNAMICS, an integral feature of the AMG DYNAMIC SELECT modes, further enhances vehicle dynamics control. This system extends the stabilizing functions of ESP with targeted interventions to improve agility.

For example, during high-speed cornering, a brief brake intervention on the inside rear wheel generates a defined yaw torque, resulting in a spontaneous and precise steering response. The settings vary from extremely stable to highly dynamic.

Advanced Driver Assistance: Intelligent Support Systems

The new AMG GT Coupé incorporates a suite of advanced driver assistance systems, utilizing an array of sensors, cameras, and radar to monitor traffic and the vehicle’s surroundings. These systems can intervene rapidly when necessary, offering support in various driving situations, from everyday tasks like distance control and lane changing to emergency collision response.

The instrument cluster features a new display concept that visualizes the functionality of these systems, enhancing driver awareness and understanding.

The assistance display in the instrument cluster provides a full-screen view of how the driver assistance systems operate. It shows an abstract representation of the car, lanes, lane markings, and other road users, including cars, trucks, and motorcycles. This display makes the system status and functionality of the assistants transparent, contributing to a heightened driving experience.

Connectivity and Infotainment: The Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX)

The AMG GT Coupé is equipped with the MBUX infotainment system, offering access to numerous Mercedes me connect digital services. This includes smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a hands-free Bluetooth set, and digital radio (DAB and DAB+). MBUX enhances the vehicle’s intelligence, enabling functions both before and during driving.

Real-time traffic data and car-to-X communication provide efficient traffic jam avoidance and time-saving routes. This communication system allows connected vehicles to exchange information about traffic incidents, further enhancing the driving experience.