Mercedes-AMG's New GT63 Coupe Aims for More Mass Appeal

Did you know that spiders don't have muscles in their legs? It's true. Their legs are controlled with what amounts to a hydraulic system that uses blood as the fluid. It's why spiders' legs curl up postmortem. We're not saying that AMG was inspired by spiders here, but the new Mercedes-AMG GT's standard hydraulic anti-roll control echoes the arachnid's limbs.

As with the hydropneumatic system long used by McLaren, the GT's corners are linked via circuits that manage the roll stiffness. At each corner is a cylinder that looks like a damper, but the actual damping is done externally, at electronically controlled valves on the damper body. There is no valving inside the tube. The system has the advantage of being able to effectively disconnect the anti-roll effect to improve ride and then crank the anti-roll stiffness up to 11 when you want to corner like you mean it. The downside is that it's heavier than conventional anti-roll bars, and heavier is a bit of a theme with the new GT.

Bigger Than Before

This second-gen GT is basically a clean-sheet design that now shares its underpinnings with the Mercedes-AMG SL. No more dual-clutch transaxle, dedicated platform, or long-hood proportions that the first GT, and the SLS before it, had. A twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 makes 577 horsepower and drives all four wheels by way of the corporate nine-speed automatic. A back seat is optional, and the monolithic infotainment screen and digital gauges are shared with the SL. The platform is larger. Its 106.3-inch wheelbase is 2.8 inches greater than before, and the overall length has ballooned 7.1 inches to 186.1. As such, the GT carries about 600 pounds more than it used to.

While the rear seat is optional, it should be considered mandatory. What little mass it adds is shaded by a metric ton of functionality. AMG claims the pair of seats can fit people up to four feet 11, which basically means "kids," and that tracks. What makes the seats a must is that they fold. When folded, the cargo space grows from 11 cubic feet to 24, and the increase in area is enough to wedge a bicycle in there (after removing the front wheel). Go with the two-seater, and there's a parcel shelf and a fixed vertical partition.

The vestigial seats were driven by customer demand. AMG listened to what its buyers wanted, and the overwhelming consensus was more functionality and, despite the wonderful advancements in winter tires, all-wheel drive. While owners didn't clamor for more performance, AMG being AMG decided it needed that too.