Spy photographers have captured the next model based on the Mercedes-AMG GT since the second quarter of 2015. Rumours suggested that it could be the Black Series, but then later on reports started to suggest that it will be called the GT R.
This past weekend Mercedes-Benz used its Brooklands facility in the UK to unveil the next model in the AMG GT range, called the Mercedes-AMG GT R (note, without a hyphen).
The single most impressive fact about the car is the effort Mercedes-AMG has gone through to make the car different from the AMG GT and the AMG GT S.
On the exterior there is a new grille that is closely associated with Mercedes’s GT3 race car as well as the historically significant Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing car that won the legendary Panamericana road race in Mexico in 1952. The rest of the exterior is notably different. This includes the front which features additional air intakes, the side panels and finally the rear with a fixed wing and a new diffuser.
The GT R also features active aerodynamics. This include the area in front of the engine which reduce lift by 40 kg on the front axle at 250 km/h. In total, the car offers 155 kg of downforce at the GT R’s top speed of 318 km/h.
The GT R is also wider, featuring 46 mm wider tracks at the front and 57 mm at the rear. The 10-spoke forged wheels are wrapped in Michelin Cup 2 tyres, offering 275 section tyres at the front and rather wide 325 section tyres at the rear. Carbon ceramic brakes (saving 17 kg) are optional. All in, the GT R is only 15 kg lighter than the GT S – which still leaves some room for a lighter Black Series derivative in our opinion.
It is under the hood where the development gets even more exciting. The 4,0-litre, turbocharged engine now develops 430 kW. This is the result of a pair of new turbos which increase boost pressure from 1,2 to 1,35 bar, and an engine remap to name two. Just as important is the lighter flywheel and a revised dual-clutch transmission, which as excepted, will made the engine even rev easier than the current models.
The dash to 100 km/h is said to take only 3,6 seconds.
Other interesting features include the ESP system which now features 9 settings for the traction control.
The GT-R will only go on sale 21 November 2016, while the international launch will only take place in Europe in March 2017.
