2022 Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe First Look Review: The Choices Are Yours
Just yesterday, we saw the reveal of the 2022 Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe. To start with, just the GT 53 and GT 43 are models are being offered, but we expect that the record-breaking GT 73e will be revealed before long. In the meantime, there are plenty of updates to the so-called more-door coupe, including the ability to seat five - not that this is something owners of real coupes ever cared about. Fortunately, there's more than just a bench seat being offered for the 2022 model, so let's dive in and see what the new luxury offering from Stuttgart is all about.
Exterior
There's not much new in this department, but this isn't an old car either. Still, buyers in this niche want loads of customization options, so that's what they're getting for the new model year. New AMG wheel designs are on offer, including a set of 21-inch forged wheels that were formerly reserved exclusively for the GT 63 S model. In addition, the 53 can now be fitted with the AMG Exterior Carbon Fiber Package I or the Silver Chrome Exterior Package. Pricing for these options isn't available, but we expect the carbon offering to be the pricier of the two.
Also available is the Manufaktur Exclusive Edition, which adds gorgeous Rubellite Red Metallic paint with the aforementioned AMG wheels in a high-gloss finish. The Silver Chrome enhancements come as part of the deal.
Interior
That Manufaktur Edition also gets Neva Grey Exclusive Nappa leather paired with Natural Grain Grey Ash Wood trim accents and an AMG Performance steering wheel with arguably a few too many buttons on it.
Regular AMG GT 4-Door models get access to Anthracite open-pore wood accents and a new AMG Performance steering wheel too, with this trimmed in either plain Nappa leather or a mix of Nappa and Dinamica suede. The wheel is more than just a pretty piece of jewelry, as it can detect when the driver does not have his or her hands on the wheel and can even activate the emergency braking system if no action is taken. New interior color combos include Titanium Grey Pearl/Black with Yellow contrast stitching and Auburn Brown/Black with diamond stitching.
Whichever you choose, an available panoramic roof will allow loads of light in for a more spacious feel. As we touched on earlier, a bench seat is now available to increase rear capacity to three.
Comfort and Performance
When the range includes a car that set a lap record at the Nurburgring, your expectations for comfort can't be too high, but Mercedes has retuned the AMG Ride Control+ suspension system on the forthcoming V8-powered versions anyway. The company says a new pair of pressure limiting valves that work with the multi-chamber air suspension components will provide a better ride on the street. "As a result, passengers are almost completely shielded from uneven road surfaces, while the car body remains stabilized," says Mercedes.
But the performance chops are still there, as the damping system can be set to Sport+. In this mode, upgraded hardware components like new axle subframes and bushings will work with the rest of the systems to ensure the deftest handling possible. As for numbers, nothing changes under the hood. The GT 53 delivers 429 hp and 384 lb-ft, while the GT 43 puts down 362 hp and 369 lb-ft, before the 48-volt EQ Boost adds 21 hp and 184 lb-ft in short bursts. Both 53 and 43 models will do 0-60 in around 4.5 seconds and the former will hit 174 mph while the latter hits the limiter at 167.
Price and Verdict
It's really difficult to call a verdict when we haven't had a chance to drive the car yet, but there are a number of factors that give us reason to be optimistic about the update. For a start, our review of the 2021 model left us impressed with the styling, the performance, the ride and handling, the customization options, and the MBUX infotainment system. With all but the media system enhanced for 2021 in some way, the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe is set to play to its own strengths, and that's a good thing. As for pricing, we have no word yet, but expect to pay a little more than last year's base asking price of just under $90k.