Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Pro: The most hardcore Mercedes

The GT is the hero car of AMG’s production range. Its day job is to set track records, but it’s said to be more rounded in this second-gen avatar. It costs a cool Rs 3 crore (ex-showroom) if you opt for the GT 63 or Rs 3.65 crore if you go all out with the GT 63 Pro version featured here.

Mercedes AMG GT 63 Pro Exterior Design and Engineering – 8/10

Second-gen AMG GT is longer and heavier than original

The AMG GT is a sexy sports car with the classic long bonnet and tight tail look. The cabin isn’t as rear-set as the OG GT’s, but the proportions are cleaner now.

There’s a menacing look to the front end with the billboard-sized Panamericana grille and power bulges on the bonnet announcing the GT’s intent. I’m not quite sold on the peeled back headlamps though. Carbon fibre detailing abounds at the front splitter, at the sides and at the rear diffuser. The blister look on the taillights is a cool touch too. 

GT 63 Pro stands out for 21-inch forged wheels and fixed carbon fibre rear wing 

The GT63 Pro is identifiable by its carbon fibre fixed rear wing, gorgeous forged 21-inch wheels and standard fit carbon ceramic brakes. Also hidden from view is enhanced underbody aero, and uprated cooling. 

A point to bring in is that the Gen 2 AMG GT has grown. It’s a substantial 200mm longer, 70mm of which is at the wheelbase. The idea was to make the GT more versatile; buyers apparently wanted more cabin room and more luggage space. If you’ll carry around a space saver spare tyre, as you should, luggage space is strictly limited.

Then again, if you have a GT in your garage, you probably also have a fleet of SUVs following for luggage duties. 

AMG GT has much in common with SL roadster

Under the skin, the new GT is quite different to the original. There’s a close link to the AMG-built latest-gen SL and four-wheel-steer, all-wheel drive and clever cross-link dampers (that do away with the need for anti-roll bars) have been drafted in too. Another crucial change is the old car’s rear-mounted dual-clutch transaxle gearbox has been ditched in favour of a nine-speed multi-clutch gearbox bolted directly onto the engine. Resultantly, the weight balance has gone from slightly rear-biased to slightly front-biased now. Speaking of weight, the AMG GT has piled on the kilos from Gen 1 to Gen 2, gaining over 250 kgs to weigh in at 1970kg.

The engine is the only real carry forward from the old car. It’s AMG’s brute of a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. On the AMG GT 63, power stands at 585hp and 800Nm. The GT 63 Pro dials the figures up to 612 hp and 850Nm. 

Mercedes AMG GT 63 Pro Interior Space and Comfort – 7/10

Cabin is roomy for its class and access is (relatively) convenient too.

Your first point of contact with the AMG GT are door handles that pop out as you approach the car. It’s a drop-down on the multi-way adjustable AMG Performance seats, but getting in and out is relatively convenient as low-slung sports cars go.

The interior isn’t as snug as the old AMG GT’s, and feels comfortable for two occupants. However, the general vibe in the cabin is a bit too familiar Mercedes. The dash is dominated by a portrait-oriented touchscreen that’s slick and crisp, but also robs the interior of some identity. The last AMG GT, if you recall, had its knobs and dials positioned in a V to emphasise the engine.

The digital dials with their multiple themes though are fantastic, and quality on the whole is top-notch. I’m not a fan of the touchpads on the steering, but the pod-like shortcuts for the drive modes and other functions are great to operate. Of course, I configured exhaust loud mode and front suspension lift as my go-to shortcuts.

Rear seats are available as an option.

Interestingly, there’s some space behind the front seats and in a first for an AMG GT, you could even specify rear seats. I’d rather keep this as a strict two-seater and use any additional space for soft bags. 

Mercedes AMG GT 63 Pro Features and Safety – 8/10

AMG GT 63 Pro boasts a comprehensive list of features.

The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 might be hardcore but it’s not a stripped-out machine. There are lots of goodies packed in. The list includes the aforementioned 11.9-inch touchscreen that’s your control centre for many of the car’s features and functions. You can also geek out on car data and there’s a full set of timing and performance recorders too. You’ll also refer to the screen often for the crisp 360-degree camera that’s a boon in tight confines. 

Of the other things, the Burmester sound system is sensational and there’s lots of scope to play around with the lighting inside. Should you want more natural light, there’s a glass roof in easy access as well. 

Safety kit includes ADAS functions such as adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and auto emergency braking. However, the system is too sensitive for chaotic Indian roads and can trigger braking when you don’t want it to. So, first order of business is to always switch the system off before starting out. 

Mercedes AMG GT 63 Pro Performance and Refinement – 9/10

612hp AMG GT 63 Pro does 0-100kph in just 3.2 sec

The big numbers first. The AMG GT 63 Pro does the 0-100kph dash in 3.2 seconds, 200kph is said to come up in just 10.9 seconds and Vmax is 317 kph. Acceleration is absolutely brutal. You are pushed and then pinned back onto your seat and the only respite is gear shifts at 7000rpm. Responses at any speed are sharp and the 9-speed gearbox is also always on the ball. Drive with a heavy foot and the gearbox will slam in with an upshift at just the right time. 

Thunderous exhaust note is a highlight.

And then there’s the way the GT sounds. The bark from the quad exhausts adds a new layer to the experience. The soundtrack is deep and menacing when you’re driving at low speeds, but pick up the pace, drop a gear and the sound level goes up. The fury increases and for added effect, there are pops and crackles being splattered by the exhaust. Long live the V8! 

Mercedes AMG GT 63 Pro Ride Comfort and Handling – 8/10

Steering has good heft and turn-in is keen.

What you’ll love about the AMG GT is that it feels alive. It’s not just the speed and sound but how the road and the wheels talk to you through the steering wheel. There’s a heft to the steering that keeps you connected.

All-wheel-steer also must be doing its job really well because the big and heavy AMG GT is really keen around the corners. Under 100kph, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction as the ones up front by up to 2.5 degrees to aid agility, and upwards of 100kph, they steer up to 0.7 degrees in the same direction as the front ones to aid stability. On the same roads though, a Porsche 911 just feels lighter and tighter.

AWD helps make most of the 612hp power.

You can play around with a lot of settings to fine-tune your experience and the AWD system has steps too. At the AMG GT’s sedatest, power is split 50-50 front-rear. But as you move towards the sportier modes, the rear bias progressively increases. In Drift mode, 100 percent of the power goes to the back. You will need to swallow your brave pills on days when you want to make the most of drift mode. 

AWD has changed the AMG GT’s character. Where the last-gen GT R had programmable ESC modes which could take the experience from playful to outright vicious, the new GT always feels more exploitable. With 612hp to play with, better safe than facing the wrong side of the road. 

Low ground clearance and firm ride limit everyday usability. 

While the AMG GT is a car that you’d happily pick for a day dedicated to hard driving, it’s not a car you’d want to use every day. Ground clearance is strictly limited so you’ll need to use the front suspension lift that gives an additional 30mm of clearance very often. You can geo-tag trouble spots, allowing the car to automatically raise its ride height each time you approach them, but you’ll still have to move with extreme caution. Then comes the matter of the ride itself. The AMG GT uses short travel springs and rides on 21-inch rims wrapped in low-profile rubber, so it was always going to be a losing battle against Indian roads. You feel the road at low speeds and even when you’re going faster, the ride is very busy. Things only firm up further as you move to the sportier modes and at no point does it feel as relaxed as you’d want something with GT in its name. 

Mercedes AMG GT 63 Pro Mileage and Efficiency – 3/10

The Mercedes-AMG GT loves its diet of 100 octane petrol and will go through its 70 litre tank alarmingly fast over a day of hard driving. We managed around 3-4kpl.   

Mercedes AMG GT 63 Pro Price and Verdict – 8/10

Mercedes-AMG GT price starts at Rs 3 crore (ex-showroom); rivals Porsche 911

The closest rival to a Mercedes AMG GT is a Porsche 911. The Rs 3 crore (ex-showroom) GT 63 rivals the 911 Carrera 4 GTS (Rs 2.78 crore), while the Rs 3.65 crore GT 63 Pro is a 911 Turbo S Challenger (Rs 3.8 crore). The Porsches might be ever so slightly quicker but they are also more Germanic, more clinical in their ways. The AMGs take a more flamboyant approach. 

The GT 63 Pro sounds, goes and feels like a muscle car, but one that can also hold its own on a twisty racetrack. And it’s this that gives the AMG GT 63 Pro a space of its own in the performance car world.

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