Although it shares much of its chassis hardware with the SL, the GT receives its own camber settings, wheel offsets and spring and damper rates. These help to give it an instantly more focused and engaging feel than the soft-top.
It may not be quite as visceral or challenging to drive as the old GT, but what it does offer is far greater confidence and control.
The positives begin with the steering: there’s greater feedback and a more dependable feel to the new electromechanical system. Although the weight distribution now clearly favours the front end, the subtle effect of the rear-wheel steering serves to rotate the rear nicely, thereby improving agility.
And with the variable elements of the 4Matic+ system doing their thing, there’s considerable grip and a good deal more traction; the GT is now significantly more stable and better planted from corner entry to corner exit.
In addition, the new suspension, with its active damping and active anti-roll system, delivers far more effective shock absorption and provides more consistent body control than the previous set-up. You can push hard towards the apex with great conviction. And over mid- corner bumps, which were the bane of the old GT, it’s beautifully settled.
The new coupé is more agreeable on every level, then, whatever the road conditions or driving mode. The move to a four-seat layout may have given it more of a grand-tourer character in terms of packaging, but it has lost nothing in terms of outright driver appeal.
There’s added refinement to the ride, which while firm in its more sporting modes displays greater compliance and ability to deal with both smaller, high-frequency and larger bumps alike.
The notorious sensitivity of the old GT on coarse surfaces is also vastly improved in combination with the optional suspension, making the new car quieter and altogether less taxing to drive over longer distances.
