Mercedes-AMG GT Prototype Spins Out of Control at Goodwood Festival of Speed

Will the 2024 Mercedes-AMG GT live up to the hype and deliver an exhilarating driving experience?

A driver of a camouflaged Mercedes-AMG GT prototype made a spectacle at the Goodwood Festival of Speed by doing donuts but ended up losing control of the vehicle.

The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GT, which has yet to be officially launched, made an appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed as a camouflaged prototype. Sporting a vibrant wrap and yellow tape covering its lights, the prototype aimed to attract attention.

A video posted on YouTube captured the moment when the driver decided to show off the GT’s capabilities by performing donuts within an enclosed area surrounded by hay bales and a fence. Initially, the driver handled the vehicle with skill, spinning it like a ballerina.

However, at low speeds, the driver made a mistake, took their foot off the accelerator, and lost control of the car. It ended up veering onto the grass embankment and colliding with some hay. Despite the embarrassing incident, both the vehicle and the hay remained relatively unscathed.

Contrary to speculations, Mick Schumacher, who appeared in a photo on Mercedes-AMG’s Instagram page, was not driving the GT during the donut mishap. The same YouTube video also showed the GT successfully completing the hillclimb at the festival and parked in the sheds for closer inspection.

Examining the prototype, it becomes evident that it features an active rear spoiler. Previous spy photos have already given us a good idea of its design, which appears to be production-ready. However, Mercedes-AMG might have brought it to the festival for testing purposes. The carmaker teased a corner of the coupe on its Instagram page, further fueling anticipation.

The upcoming Mercedes-AMG GT will be built on the Modular Sports Architecture (MSA), which it shares with the Mercedes-AMG SL. While the new model’s design language is expected to be an evolution of its predecessor, it showcases a smoother front and squared-off exhausts at the rear. Mercedes-AMG plans to offer a plug-in hybrid variant in the GT range and potentially include mild-hybrid powertrains as well.

The interior of the GT coupe remains a mystery, but it is anticipated to have a similar layout to its SL counterpart. Unlike the SL, the GT is unlikely to feature two rear seats. This modification allows Mercedes-AMG to strengthen and stiffen the aluminum MSA platform, resulting in a more track-focused setup. The exact powertrain options for the GT are yet to be confirmed, but it may borrow some from the SL range.

For instance, the entry-level SL 43 has a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 48V mild-hybrid system, generating 280kW of power and 480Nm of torque. However, this powertrain is less likely to be included in the GT, as it has been positioned as a brand halo. The more powerful SL 55 4Matic+ and SL 63 4Matic+ feature twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engines, producing 350kW/700Nm and 430kW/800Nm respectively.

On the other hand, the GT 63 S E Performance variant may adopt the 4.0-liter twin-turbo plug-in hybrid V8 powertrain from the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe’s 63 S E Performance variant. This particular powertrain delivers an impressive 620kW and 1400Nm of total system outputs.

In conclusion, while the driver of the Mercedes-AMG GT prototype made a memorable entrance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, their stunt didn’t go quite as planned. Nevertheless, the incident highlighted the upcoming GT model’s features, including its active rear spoiler and anticipated plug-in hybrid powertrain options. Car enthusiasts can look forward to witnessing the official debut of the 2024 Mercedes-AMG GT and discovering the full extent of its performance capabilities.

Will the 2024 Mercedes-AMG GT live up to the hype and deliver an exhilarating driving experience? Only time will tell.

• The driver of a Mercedes-AMG GT prototype performed donuts at the Goodwood Festival of Speed
• The driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to hit some hay
• Fortunately, the car sustained minimal damage
• Mick Schumacher was not involved in the incident
• The Mercedes-AMG GT completed the hillclimb at the festival
• The vehicle showcases an active rear spoiler
• The upcoming GT model will be built on the Modular Sports Architecture
• The design language of the new GT is expected to be slightly smoother at the front with squared-off exhausts at the rear
• Mercedes-AMG is likely to offer plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid powertrains
• The interior of the GT coupe is likely to resemble the layout of the SL counterpart
• The GT may adopt powertrains from the SL range

The incident at the Goodwood Festival of Speed brought attention to the upcoming Mercedes-AMG GT, showcasing its design, features, and potential powertrain options.