The Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro takes the top spot in the AMG GT line up. For now……
Mercedes-AMG unveiled another high-performance version of the Mercedes-AMG GT, the AMG GT R pro at the Los Angeles Auto Show. A serious track oriented version of the AMG GT, the GT R pro is currently at the top of the AMG GT line up. However, it will not hold the spot for long as AMG boss Tobias Moers recently confirmed that an AMG GT Black version will be arriving soon.
Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro for the racetrack
The hardcore AMG GT R pro comes with an integrated roll cage, a stiffer suspension, and some extreme aero parts carried over from the AMG GT4 parts bin. It has also lost a little bit of weight over the ‘more civilized’ street oriented AMG GT.
The AMG GT R Pro is powered by a 4.0 liter twin turbo V8 putting out 577 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. By comparison, the four door GT 63 S puts out 630 horsepower. As a result, we can expect the forthcoming AMG GT Black Series to put out the same power as the GT 63 S, if not more. However, a more reasonable number is actually closer to 700 horse power since the Black Series, when it first came out in 2012 was packing 631 horse power. Additionally, its closest competitors, the McLaren 720S and Porsche 911 GT2 RS put out right around 700 horse power.
When talking race track performance, the name of the game is weight and downforce. Weight reductions in the GT R Pro are in the form of lightweight design bucket seats as well as a llightweight wheels.
Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro Nurburgring lap records
Downforce is increased through aerodynamic fine-tuning of lessons learned from GT3 and GT4 motorsports development activity. Apparently, lessons learned have been significant in that the AMG GT R Pro set the record at Nurburgring for an AMG at the hands of AMG GT3 racer Maro Engel in 7:04.63. This is more than six seconds faster when the AMG GT R lapped the famed course in 7:10.92 at the hands of journalist Christian Gebhardt in 2016.
With the incremental improvement in lap times over the regular GT R, it should be interesting to see how the GT Black Series performs with a higher performance version of AMG’s capable 4.0 twin-turbo V8 engine. We should find out soon as it is rumored that prototypes are being prepared for release in 2020 as a 2021 model.
