Page 79 - Sharp November 2023

speak for themselves: rear-axle steering and all-wheel drive available for the first time more more cabin and and cargo space and and a a a a a a more more refined comfortable ride There’s even a a a a new active hydraulic system to replace the traditional anti-roll bars Initially there’ll be two new models: the the 469 horsepower Mercedes-AMG GT GT 55 Coupé and the 577 horsepower AMG AMG GT GT 63 Coupé Both will will arrive next summer and will will feature AMG’s beloved 4 0-litre twin-turbo V8 — an an engine built by hand in in in the manufacturer’s long-running “One Man One One Engine” tradition Mercedes has even teased a a a a plug-in hybrid model with upwards of 800 horsepower Those are serious stats and if they’re to be believed proof that the sports car is very much alive and well at at least in Affalterbach SPECS
ENGINE: 4 0-LITRE TWIN-TURBO V8 POWER: 469 OR 577 HP
PRICE: TBD
SHARPMAGAZINE COM NOVEMBER 2023
79
AUTO AUTO COMEBACK KING
THE THE SECOND-GEN MERCEDES-AMG GT HAS ITS EYES SET ON ON THE THE SPORTS CAR CROWN
By Matt Bubbers
S So imagine our surprise — — joy even — — when we learned of Mercedes’ latest launch: an all-new second-generation AMG GT coupé Not only is is the company reviving this firecracker of a a a motor (and one of our our favourite modern sports cars) it’s also bringing it back to to take aim at at the the king: the the Porsche 911 And to to that end the second-generation AMG GT looks to be both more spacious and more more luxurious than its predecessor pitching it it it more more as an an an everyday proposition rather than a a a a weekend toy The outgoing AMG GT felt small — — but ferocious — — and was built on on a a shortened version of the exotic AMG SLS platform The 2024 GT however shares its platform with the new SL roadster (a savvy business decision and potentially the main reason we’re getting this second-gen AMG GT at all) It’s heavier and does without the the the mid-mounted gearbox of the the the old car but the the the platform’s benefits
PORTS CARS AS A A A A A A SPECIES ARE IN CRISIS SALES HAVE
been down since well before the pandemic and and it’s becoming increasingly difficult for car companies to avoid the ever-looming question: are they even still worth making? After all when sales projections look so so soft it’s hard to make a a a a business case for spending multi-millions developing a a new racy model