At any time when we hyperlink up with a pal we haven’t seen shortly, there’s generally a split-second of shock. The picture of them in our heads, how they fashion their hair, gown, and mannerisms, all of a sudden clashes as we have a look at the up to date model of the individual we’ve come to know. And whereas our brains rapidly settle as we catch up, it’s nonetheless fascinating how even refined adjustments can leap out with an amazing potential to shock.
Though not a pal nor an individual, that’s exactly how I felt when a Staling Blue Magno-finished 2024 Mercedes-AMG GT63 pulled as much as my home a couple of weeks in the past. Every little thing I can see, its lengthy hood, modern sloping roofline, and outsized quad exhaust ideas, inform me I’m taking a look at AMG’s Porsche 911 fighter, but it surely doesn’t really feel that means. One thing’s barely off. The final GT I drove years in the past was a long-slung, rear-drive, agile sports activities automotive adorned with touches of Mercedes class. At first look, this appeared like a completely totally different type of machine.
It’s longer, taller, and wider than the automotive it replaces. In virtually each dimension, the brand new GT is considerably upsized. Peek underneath its hood, and also you received’t discover any apparent explanation why. In spite of everything, it’s powered by an up to date model of the identical twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 as its predecessor, now producing 577 horses, matching the outgoing GT R. As an alternative, the offender lives beneath the pores and skin because the 63, together with its much less highly effective 55 and 43 twins, shares a platform with the newest SL.
This isn’t inherently a foul factor, although. AMG designed and constructed the newest Sport-Leicht solely in-house. No commonplace manufacturing Benz runs alongside it. It’s a correct Affalterbach thoroughbred. Nevertheless, merging a convertible cruiser with a sports activities automotive requires a good bit of compromise. It’s why, partly, the brand new GT now comes commonplace with a 2+2 seating association. This tester, nonetheless, replaces its second row with a flat shelf.
The alarm bells start to sound as we dive deeper into the small print. Though platform sharing doesn’t all the time lead to substantial weight good points, on this case, it does. The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 is a full 783 kilos heavier than the automotive it replaces, with a curb weight of 4,343 lb. For context, its closest competitor, the 911 Carrera 4 GTS, weighs in at 3,536 lb. Even the Turbo positioned above it sits at 3,649 lb.
Are these mass good points as impactful as they appear on paper? The GT’s efficiency stats actually don’t point out so. Provided solely with all-wheel drive in 63 and 55 varieties, the GT is faster than its predecessor, sprinting to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and persevering with onto an electronically restricted 196 mph prime velocity. It could be bigger and heavier, however AMG hasn’t damaged the unwritten rule set by stat-focused fans {that a} new efficiency automotive have to be extra highly effective and faster than it replaces. On paper, good points are all the time welcomed, however provided that AMG nonetheless positions the GT as a sports activities automotive, these enhancements should quantity to a extra thrilling driving expertise.
On a quiet Saturday morning, I pointed the GT’s nostril in direction of the canyons north of Los Angeles, with its configurable drive settings, suspension, and exhaust set to full-attack mode. Within the days main as much as my canyon run, the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 had confirmed itself a flexible grand tourer with versatile and compliant suspension and a well-isolated cabin. Nothing ought to get in the way in which of turning into your each day driver. Not even this tester’s agency $2,500 AMG Efficiency Seats spoil the experience. Add the advantages of a large 23.8 cubic toes trunk made potential by its rear hatch, and the GT is a superb one-car answer.
The GT makes an ideal first impression at velocity on the twisty highway. Due to all-wheel traction, a quick-shifting nine-speed automated, and a full 590 pound-feet of torque, the hefty 63 picks up velocity effortlessly. The character of its twin-turbo V8 is surprisingly acquainted, simply extra responsive than in earlier iterations. Regardless of missing any type of electrification, the GT minimizes turbo lag, driving an unrelenting wave of torque as much as 5,000 rpm, the place it trails off barely as its engine spins up previous seven grand. Brief-shifting is important to getting probably the most out of it. Not an issue when a tug of the appropriate paddle serves up the following gear nearly immediately.
Dive right into a bend, and the GT 63 has extra methods up its sleeve. Like the whole lot in its class, it rides on adaptive shocks, adjustable by way of pre-set drive modes or a configurable particular person setting. Nevertheless, it enhances them with a hydraulic anti-roll system that skirts the necessity for conventional bars. It’s an lively system that may dial out physique roll in actual time. Coupled with an lively aero system with an adjustable splitter and a deployable rear wing, the GT stays properly secure at excessive velocity and within the bends whereas efficiently masking most of its heft.
That’s, till you encounter a very tight part of highway. In most settings, the GT’s $4,000 set of beautiful 21-inch split-spoke gold wheels wrapped in 295/35 and 305/35 part Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 rubber provide great grip. Nevertheless, as you deal with a good set of switchbacks, the 63’s weight involves the forefront. Join a couple of quick corners, and also you’ll really feel its mass start to carry you again because it hesitates to show in sharply. Previous a sure tempo, the phantasm that you just’re driving one thing agile, conjured largely by its lively aero, sticky tires, and intelligent suspension elements, rapidly falls aside.
Decelerate, drive it much less like a sports activities automotive and extra like a fast grand tourer, and it comes collectively properly. The velocity of its steering begins aligning nicely with the entrance finish’s capabilities, resulting in a way of directness. Though highly effective sufficient to persistently sluggish this hefty two-door on a again highway, its commonplace composite brakes appear primarily calibrated for simple modulation on the road. As such, they’re a lot happier at this chiller tempo.
There’s an argument to be made that this grand-touring persona is one the GT, particularly given its title, ought to’ve embraced from the start. In case you have a look at the highway automobiles produced by Mercedes and AMG over the previous few a long time, you’ll discover solely a handful of track-capable sports activities automobiles. What you will notice loads of, nonetheless, are giant muscular luxurious automobiles with nice huge fire-breathing engines, exactly what the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 is.
Though a lot has been stated about its new platform and its substantial weight good points, particularly on this assessment, the brand new GT manages to make an vital level: chasing the 911 isn’t all the time the appropriate transfer for a model trying to set up a long-lasting nameplate. Whereas its predecessor made a substantial splash within the trade, later spawning a convertible variant, a observe day particular, and a track-er day particular, it didn’t handle to attract sufficient consumers away from its key rival. Final yr alone, Porsche bought extra 911s than Mercedes did GTs within the earlier 4 years mixed.
The arrival of this newest technology does create, nonetheless, a possibility for the GT to redefine itself, leaning on what’s made us love AMG, each new and outdated. It begins with a transparent benefit; a minimum of stylistically, it’s a extra fascinating buy than the ever present Porsche. On condition that it wears one of the vital profitable designs out of Affalterbach in latest reminiscence, the GT drips with a stage of swagger the 911 can’t match. Given its relative rarity compared, seeing one within the wild ends in an instantaneous neck snap.
Sat low to the bottom with widened wheel arches and its softly sloping roofline, the GT’s styling is considerably extra evocative than the SL’s. It has virtually excellent proportions because of enlarged headlights, a widened grille, and an unlimited movable rear wing. And regardless of its platform sharing, it nonetheless manages to seize the magic of the long-hooded fashion with its passenger compartment positioned way back to potential.
Its attractiveness carry into its cabin, the place its upsized passenger compartment feels far roomier than its predecessor’s, with improved visibility and front-row house. Its materials selections and total match and end have additionally considerably improved, though you’ll should cope with the identical screen-heavy format as seen within the SL. It’d be superb if it had been straightforward to navigate, however swiping by way of numerous menus whereas driving is unnecessarily distracting. Decide as a substitute to manage it by way of your wheel-mounted swipe controls, and also you’ll encounter an equally irritating expertise, provided that they not often work as meant.
There’s additionally the matter of its value. The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 begins at $178,750, together with charges, marking a major improve over its predecessor. This gorgeous matte blue tester carries an as-tested value of $209,310.
After every week on the highway, it’s turn out to be obvious whether or not you’ll really feel that the brand new GT is a profitable second-generation product comes all the way down to the attitude with which you method it. Anticipate it to be primarily a Porsche 911 fighter like its predecessor, and also you’ll discover a automotive that delivers a dulled driving expertise. It could be faster to 60 and nonetheless tremendously quick in a straight line, but it surely’s not significantly agile within the bends thanks, partly, to its 783-lb weight good points regardless of the efforts of its lively aero, hydraulic anti-roll system, and adaptive shocks.
There may be an preliminary shock when you see and really feel how a lot the GT has modified, one you’ll want a while to get used to. Nevertheless, it’ll rapidly turn out to be obvious how good of a snug, spacious, sensible, and quick long-distance machine it’s. A versatility complemented by its jaw-dropping appears and a ferocious and characterful engine. Nevertheless, regardless of how a lot it has shifted because it enters its second technology, AMG may take it one step additional, dropping its sports activities automotive branding and embracing the GT’s strengths as a world-class grand tourer.
