This hot new 2024 Mercedes

By Sean Tucker

The GT 63 lays down 577 horsepower that claims zero to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds

The AMG in-house tuning shop of Mercedes-Benz has a long, storied racing history. So you know the car it considers its signature product is going to be a precise machine. But we didn't expect it to come with a built-in driving instructor.

Mercedes recently took the wraps off the new flagship of the AMG line, the 2024 Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe.

New back seats. Sort of.

The first thing you'll notice, if you're familiar with the car, is a slight name change. Mercedes is calling this version the AMG GT Coupe, while previous versions were just known as the AMG GT.

The second thing you'll notice is the extra seats. The AMG GT Coupe is now a 2+2, meaning there are rear seats for the first time -- though you wouldn't want to ask an adult to fold herself into them if you could help it.

Mercedes hasn't revealed pricing. We expect a starting point around $140,000.

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More rounded look, active aero

The look has evolved, but subtly. The AMG GT has always been remarkable for its simple design -- no gaudy overemphasized aerodynamic bits, just an aggressive take on the classic Mercedes nose and a pinched rear. The new design keeps to that simple slice-the-air philosophy. But the fascia is rounder, and new, bigger vents help cool the front brakes.

We'd suggest that a more pronounced, rounded shoulder line has hints of Porsche (PAH3.XE) in it. But we wouldn't want to offend Mercedes designers.

Active aerodynamics do a lot of work here. A retractable spoiler changes position to make the most of airflow. Active louvers inside the front fascia are closed in normal operation. "Only when certain temperatures have been reached on pre-defined components and the demand for cooling air is particularly high do the louvers open," the company says, "and allow maximum cooling air to flow to the heat exchangers." A second set opens only at 112 mph.

4.0-liter biturbo V8, AWD

Under the hood waits the handcrafted 4.0-liter biturbo V8 that AMG designers love so much. Here, it's tuned to put out 469 horsepower in the tamest version, the GT 55. The hotter GT 63 lays down 577. Mercedes says that version can leap from a standstill to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds.

An AMG SpeedShift MCT 9G transmission sends power to all four wheels, and a wet start-off clutch replaces the torque converters. The all-wheel-drive system includes torque vectoring for more precise steering. A limited-slip rear differential and active rear-axle steering amplify the effect.

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Augmented reality lap coach

Helping you make the most of all this precision driving tech is the car's built-in racing instructor. No, it's not an inflatable Lewis Hamilton in the glove box. But it might as well be.

Mercedes explains, "Lap and sector times are displayed on the multimedia display, head-up display, and in the instrument cluster, as well as additional training and analysis tools. The navigation in the head-up display shows cornering angles and braking points, helping the driver to find the best racing line."

Incredibly, the tech is standard equipment.

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Sport seats or sportier seats

An 11.9-inch touchscreen in portrait format dominates the dashboard but looks tastefully integrated between the signature turbine vents. A flat-bottom steering wheel is wrapped in Nappa leather or leather and microfiber at strategic points for grip.

The standard sport seats "offer exceptional comfort and a high level of lateral support," Mercedes says. But optional AMG Performance seats "are even sportier and also feature integrated headrests and ventilation openings in the seat backrests."

Up front, that is. AMG may have worked in a pair of rear seats this time, but Mercedes tactfully says they "are suitable for occupants less than five feet tall."

This story originally ran on KBB.com

-Sean Tucker

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08-28-23 0502ET