2024 Mercedes-AMG GT revealed: AWD and two extra seats might soften Merc’s supercar

Taking a leaf out of the book of Porsche 911, Mercedes-AMG has developed the 2024 AMG GT with all-wheel drive and four occupants in mind – but don’t worry, it hasn’t gone totally soft.

This could be the last new AMG to use the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 without significant electric augmentation. And, much like the related SL, the two-door GT coupe is available in two states of tune – the 350kW AMG 55 kicks things off, and the flagship AMG 63 produces 430kW and 800Nm.

With stress-easing AWD, a four-wheel interlinked suspension system that’s designed to better balance comfort and performance as well as much bigger physical dimensions, the new GT is a more grown-up sports car than the one it replaces.

Expect a similar development path to the previous AMG GT with more focused R, Black Series, and GT R Pro models likely to emerge later with a target on chopping Nordschleife lap times.

The new AMG GT is nearly 300kg heavier than the car it replaced

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Click any image to see the full AMG GT gallery

How big is the new AMG GT?

First things first, the new SL-based AMG GT is a far larger car than the one it replaces.

Measuring 4728mm tip-to-tail, the new car is 184mm longer than the two-seat GT and rides on a 70mm longer wheelbase. It’s also slightly narrower (1984mm) and a lot taller (1354mm plays 1284mm).

All this is great for occupant and cargo space (which is now a competitive 321L with the rear seats in place, or 675L with them folded), but not for weight.

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Despite employing a combination of aluminium, steel, magnesium, and fibre composite materials in its construction, the GT can’t escape its size. It’s nearly 300kg heavier than the old AMG GT, weighing 1970kg (EU kerb weight).

To deal with that increase in weight, AMG has had to be clever with its chassis. Both axles use a five-link independent design, rather than the typical double wishbone or struts you’d see up front in this kind of vehicle.

Forged aluminium parts are used in the suspension components, and there’s some clever anti-roll bar trickery going on. Each damper is connected hydraulically, and instead of using fixed sway bars, the AMG GT can disperse oil between dampers to adjust roll characteristics.

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This means that, when heavily loaded in a bend, the outside dampers can be more resistant to compression to reduce roll.

When on the straigt and narrow, the oil flows back to the reservoir and allows greater independence for each wheel increasing compliance on bumpy roads. It’s a clever way of retaining lighter steel coil springs with their consistent feel without sacrificing long-haul comfort.

Four-wheel steering, 390mm steel brake discs clamped by six-piston front calipers and adaptive dampers with six distinct drive modes finish off the AMG GT’s chassis.

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V8 engines all around... for now

Under the AMG GT’s bonnet is the familiar M178 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 – without any plug-in hybrid gubbins.

Hand-built in Affalterbach under AMG’s ‘one man one engine’ philosophy, it’s been tweaked for its life in the latest AMG GT.

A new oil pan, redesigned crankcase ventilation, repositioned intercooler, optimised inlet and outlet ports join a revised exhaust path and larger petrol particulate filter all contribute to an engine that produces its grunt in a more efficient way with lower CO2 outputs.

Mercedes-AMG has previously said it is considering electrification for the new AMG GT, but at launch it will be all petrol-fueled V8s.

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Compared to the AMG GT S, the Mercedes team has upped the 63’s torque by 130Nm and brought power in line with the previous GT R model (430kW). The lower-tune AMG 55 produces still-healthy 350kW/700Nm outputs.

Combined with AMG’s 4Matic+ AWD system and nine-speed automatic transmission that now features a wet clutch instead of a torque converter (like Mazda’s latest autos), the new car can hit 100km/h six tenths faster at 3.2 seconds.

The greater size means it can’t achieve such a high top speed, however, with Mercedes-AMG claiming a V-Max of 295km/h – 15km/h adrift of the old car.

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Pricing and Australian availability

The AMG GT is confirmed for Australian shores, but when and how much is yet to be detailed. Expect the flagship to sit in a similar price bracket to the AMG SL 63 ($374,900) as a rival for the Porsche 911 GTS ($355,200).