Here Comes the New 2024 Mercedes-AMG GT
If we’re being honest, we weren’t sure the Mercedes-AMG GT — a rowdy, rambunctious, old-school sports car — would get a second-generation model. Today, however, we’re pleased to report the second-generation AMG GT is real, and looks spectacular.
Unveiled during the recent Monterey Car Week festivities, the all-new 2024 Mercedes-AMG GT is both more spacious and more luxurious than before. The outgoing AMG GT was a truly diminutive machine, built on a shortened version of the exotic AMG SLS platform. Its V8 engine was mounted up front, but its gearbox was at the rear axle. The 2024 GT, however, shares a chassis with the SL roadster, and therefore has its gearbox mounted in the usual place, up front, just behind the V8 engine. Yes, that’s right, there’s still a handcrafted 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine under the hood.
An All-Season Sports Car
Of the biggest bits of news, the overlap with the SL chassis means that the 2024 AMG GT can now be had with 4matic all-wheel drive, which was never available on the old model.
In Canada, the simple fact of having all-wheel drive will make the new Merc much more of a threat to the venerable Porsche 911, which has been available with AWD since the late 1980s. We could debate for days about whether drivers in (relatively) mild climates like Toronto or Vancouver really need all-wheel drive, but the simple fact is Canadian drivers show an overwhelming preference for all-wheel drive vehicles. The sales stats don’t lie.
For anyone considering whether all-wheel drive could mute the car’s feel and driver feedback, fear not. The crew at AMG worked diligently to ensure that rear-biased and performance-focused power delivery is there to suit the most spirited of drivers.
Hydraulic Ride
This new chassis will also ensure a very smooth ride, thanks to the trick active hydraulic roll-stabilization system. It replaces traditional anti-roll bars and is like the hydraulic system McLaren uses on its big-budget supercars. Rear-axle steering and an electronically controlled limited-slip differential make this one high-tech piece of kit.
Adding to the everyday usability of the new coupe is a 2+2 cabin — but this is no family car. Mercedes warns the rear seats are, “suitable for occupants less than five feet tall.” In other words, they’re really meant for luggage, children, and furry copilots. The hands-free hatchback trunk and split-folding rear seats add up to a sports car that’s big enough to hold two people and all their gear for an extended road trip.
And, as you’d expect, the cabin features the latest MBUX infotainment system. It’s displayed on a new 11.9-inch portrait touchscreen that’s set in the middle of a clean new dashboard, as well as a widescreen 12.3-inch driver display.
Two Versions, Your Choice
Thankfully, drivers in Canada shouldn’t have to wait long to get behind the wheel of the new AMG GT. Mercedes-Benz Canada confirmed the 2024 coupe will be available in Canadian dealerships in Q2 2024.
Initially, there’ll be two different models: the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Coupe, and the AMG GT 55 Coupe. Both arrive in Q2, and both feature AMG’s beloved 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. Each engine is built by one mechanic at the factory in Affalterbach, according to the brand’s long-running “One Man, One Engine” principle.
The GT 63’s engine churns out 577 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque, enough to get the coupe from 0-100 km/h in 3.2 seconds. In the GT 55, drivers get a the detuned version of the same V8 engine, good for 469 hp, 516 lb-ft and a 0-100 time of 3.9 seconds. Expect to see prices announced closer to the on sale date.
After all that, if the larger, more luxe AMG GT is still a bit too hardcore for you, don’t worry, Benz has you covered with its other new coupe, the all-new 2024 CLE.