The Mercedes AMG GT is already one of the best-looking supercars on the road. Featuring a bold front-end reminiscent of old cars like the SLS Gullwing, the AMG GT looks great without being boring. Mercedes have also shoehorned in an amazing-sounding V8 biturbo engine into its long bonnet – but it looks like it didn’t have enough power for the bosses at Mercedes. The result? The Mercedes AMG GT R, one of the most outrageous, advanced cars Mercedes have ever made. Unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend, the AMG GT R packs in unprecedented levels of motorsport tech to produce an utterly ridiculous machine. Here are 7 reasons I want one of the £150,000 GT Rs, and why you will too.
7 ridiculous things you NEED to know about the about Mercedes AMG GT R [gallery:5]
1. The Mercedes AMG GT R was developed in the Nordschleife
If you’re a motorsport fan or car enthusiast, you’ll know the Nordschleife. The Green Hell, as it’s also known, is one of the most demanding tracks in the word, and it’s also where Mercedes spent most of its time developing the AMG GT R. The Mercedes AMG GT also gets its vibrant paint colour from the Nordschleife; Mercedes have called the car’s bright green paint “AMG green hell magno”.
2. That means the Mercedes AMG GT R is fast – stupid fast
The original car was rapid, but the AMG GT R takes things further. The figures tell the story: 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 318km/h (197.6mph) is ridiculously quick, and it’s all thanks to an even more powerful engine. This time round, the GT R’s twin turbocharged, 4-litre V8 engine has been tuned within an inch of its life, so it now puts out a biblical 585hp – 75hp more than the “vanilla” AMG GT.
3. The Mercedes AMG GT R sounds incredible
We sometimes associate turbos with slightly muted sound, but the biturbo AMG GT R is one huge exception. When the car was first driven in Goodwood a few weeks ago, its V8 engine managed to put most other supercars in the shade. And because it’s a V8 the Mercedes sounded more like a NASCAR than the Teutonic, refined supercar it actually is.
4. The Mercedes AMG GT R uses movable vents to keep its engine cool
The Mercedes AMG GT R’s increased power means it requires more cooling than before, but vents create drag. The solution? Movable louvres that only open when the car’s components reach a critical temperature. That way the AMG GT R isn’t compromised by vents it won’t need, and can keep down drag until cooling is really needed.
5. The Mercedes AMG GT R gets its downforce from a moveable body
The AMG GT R has a huge spoiler, but there’s also a tonne of aerodynamics going on underneath the car. Just underneath the engine, a carbon-fibre aero component moves by 40mm when the car is in over 80km/h and in race mode. The result? Aero lift is reduced by 40kg at 250km/h, making the car feel stuck to the road. Although the rest of the car’s aero features don’t move, it’s still more efficient through the air than the normal car, resulting in less drag and a higher top speed.
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6. The Mercedes AMG GT R uses its rear wheels to steer – like a forklift
In order to make the car as agile as possible, Mercedes has fitted rear wheels that help steer the car at speeds of up to 100km/h. Called “active rear-steering”, the system uses two electro-mechanical actuators to change the angles of the rear wheels. In order to reduce the turning circle of the car, the wheels actually steer the opposite way to the front wheels, and make the car even more responsive on twisty tracks like the Nordschleife. Interestingly, the rear wheels aren’t directly connected to the steer wheel, instead controlled via a “steer by wire” system.
7. The Mercedes AMG GT R is built from motorsport material
As you’d expect from a car pretty much designed for the track, the Mercedes AMG GT R is full of exotic materials such as carbon fibre and titanium. Mercedes have used carbon fibre in everything from the front wings to the roof, along with a titanium exhaust. This means the AMG GT R is 15kg lighter despite carrying much more performance tech, such as its rear-steering wheels and a large rear wing. But the best bit? Mercedes says it’s also reduced the amount of soundproofing to shave weight, so you should hear more of its 4-litre V8 powerplant.
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