5 Things To Know About The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GT

The previous Mercedes-AMG GT was launched as Mercedes' answer to the Porsche 911. It was a great sports car, but in the company of the 911's ability to do so much so well, the AMG GT felt like a one-trick pony - making a lot of noise while going very fast.

This writer loved it for that, but it failed to make a substantial dent in 911 sales. But a new AMG GT has arrived for the 2024 model year, and the second-generation GT now has what it takes to take the fight to the other Stuttgart-based sports car.

Built on a new AMG-developed platform, which it shares with the AMG SL63, the new AMG GT is more versatile, more tech-laden, more beautiful, and more capable than ever. So if you're looking for a crash course on the coolest new features of the AMG GT, you're in the right place.

We don't start with a feature but rather a philosophy of sorts. The last AMG GT was compromised by it being based on an adaptation of the SLS AMG's platform. To make it more compact, it employed a transaxle gearbox, which made the cabin snug and ultimately impractical. But the new AMG GT can now be all things to all people.

For a start, it's a two-seater sports car, but you can option a pair of rear seats to turn it into a 2+2, making it a genuine 911 rival on practicality. Mercedes claims the rear perches are suitable for occupants up to five feet tall. Because the engine is up front, there's also a traditional trunk, which can be expanded by folding the rear seatbacks.

Another department in which the 911 maintained the upper hand before was the ability to spec all-wheel drive to the 911, making it more competent in cold-weather climates. The AMG GT is now getting in on this action with 4Matic+ AWD standard on both the GT 55 and GT 63, while rear axle steering will make it easier to live with.

And then there's something the 911 doesn't have... a V8 engine. The 2024 AMG GT retains a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, available in two states of tune with either 469 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque or 577 hp and 590 lb-ft, outputs firmly in 911 Turbo territory.

AMG Track Pace is not new to Mercedes sports cars, but the latest version combines with the MBUX infotainment system and augmented reality head-up display to teach you how to be a better driver on the track. The navigation portion of the head-up display can now show cornering angles and braking points on the track, while the MBUX system can display the racing line from a pre-saved lap to turn the AMG GT into a virtual instructor.

It's the closest we've come to a production version of Jaguar's proposed virtual windscreen with ghost driver overlays and is one way digitalization can actually help foster more competent drivers. With forward-facing cameras and more than 80 pieces of data recorded, from speed and acceleration to steering angle and brake pedal actuation levels, the AMG Track Pace data logger has been taken to new heights.

Modern sports cars are all aerodynamically designed, but typically, true active aerodynamics are the reserve of hypercars and the 911 GT3 RS. Not anymore.

Starting at the nose of the GT, a two-piece Airpanel system features vertical louvers behind the lower air intake and horizontal louvers behind the upper grille, reducing lift by minimizing airflow into the engine bay and opening the two sets of louvers independently based on cooling needs.

In standard form, a retractable rear spoiler manages downforce at speed, with five presets at speeds over 50 mph based on steering angle, lateral and longitudinal acceleration, and vehicle speed. Beneath 50 mph, it retracts seamlessly into the bodywork to maintain the GT's beautiful lines. An optional Aerodynamics Package replaces this with a fixed rear wing and a larger rear diffuser, while at the front, air deflectors pin the front wheels to the road surface even more.

The active aerodynamic component with the most significant impact is out of sight, underneath the chassis, where a carbon fiber panel deploys at speeds over 50 mph, lowering by 1.6 inches and creating a Venturi effect to suck the AMG GT to the ground.

Multi-link front and rear suspension is expected at this level of the sports car market, but manufactured from lightweight forged aluminum, they reduce unsprung and semi-sprung weight. It's the AMG Active Ride Control and active roll stabilization that will make the most noticeable impact on the overall experience, though, with hydraulic elements in place of traditional stabilizer bars/sway bars.

These can compensate for changing surfaces and weight shifts in split seconds, stiffening and relaxing individual adaptive shock absorbers to control body motions. This way, one corner can soften while another stiffens, meaning actions at one wheel don't upset the entire car. It's particularly effective from left to right; when the left-hand side of the car's suspension is loaded during right-hand turns, these dampers will stiffen while the right-hand dampers soften, allowing the right-hand side to maximize grip at all times.

This is supercar technology pioneered for the mass market by McLaren and creates infinite variability in the handling control of the AMG GT. Simultaneously, when simply cruising along, it improves ride comfort for a grand touring-like ride.

Lastly, and perhaps contentiously, the level of customization on offer is also massively important. I say contentiously because keyboard warriors will say this doesn't matter, but to the buyer of a Porsche 911 or Aston Martin Vantage, being able to make a special car even more unique and personalized is a priority. If the new AMG GT is to capitalize on that market, personalization options are a must.

To this end, eleven paint colors and eight wheel designs are availed (starting with standard 20-inch items and optional 21s), while five exterior design packages let you tailor the attitude of the AMG GT. The aforementioned aerodynamics package, for example, aims for all-out aggression, but there are also subtler tweaks like blacked-out chrome detailing.

We also expect the inevitable launch of a Manufaktur program for the AMG GT, which will bring additional paint colors, interior options, and bespoke elements to further separate you from the riff-raff. Special series models, like the AMG SL 63 Manufaktur Big Sur seen at Monterey Car Week, will be part of this division's purview.