Mercedes-AMG GT R
The Beast of the Green Hell

11 May 2017

The Mercedes-AMG GT R is the top-of-the-line model of the high performance division of Mercedes-Benz based in Affalterbach. An extreme version of the GT sports car, it is a street-legal vehicle designed for those who really want to head for the track, ready to turn into a racing car in just a few steps. It is available in five colors, including the exclusive shade called Light Green Magno, a homage to the circuit on which it has clocked up kilometers in the tuning process: we’re talking about the Nürburgring, the legendary German race track immersed in the woods of the Eifel Mountains which Jackie Stewart nicknamed the Green Hell. The car is light, weighing 90 kg less than the GT S thanks to the more extensive use of aluminum, carbon fiber, titanium and magnesium, and boasts a remarkable aerodynamic efficiency, favored by the large spoiler at the rear. The 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine, mounted at the front but set a long way back for a better distribution of weight, delivers 585 hp (430 kW) and a maximum torque of 700 Nm (between 1,900 and 5,500 rpm), and offers a record-breaking performance: with a top speed of 318 km/h (198 mph), it can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds (0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds). The roar is majestic. The 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, which can also be operated manually, is located in the rear part of the car, in a transaxle configuration that permits an optimal distribution of mass. One of the GT R’s important innovations is the active rear axle steering system, which improves the handling, agility and stability of the vehicle: in essence, the rear wheels, the ones which drive the car, turn in the opposite direction to the front ones at low speeds, and in the same direction at high speeds. The driver can intervene on the differential through the new AMG Traction Control system, which allows preselection of the amount of slippage on the rear axle by choosing one of the nine levels available. The suspension is also fully adjustable, as is the driving mode, with a choice of four programs: Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual (plus the Race mode). The wheels, finally, are of different sizes: 19 inches at the front and 20 at the back, with the option of specific Michelin Sport Cup 2 tires that have a very low shoulder. The interior is minimalist in design, but with all the comforts required by a car of this kind, starting with the AMG Performance seats.

Mercedes-AMG GT R

Mercedes-AMG GT R

Mercedes-AMG GT R

Mercedes-AMG GT R

Mercedes-AMG GT R

Mercedes-AMG GT R

Mercedes-AMG GT R

Mercedes-AMG GT R

Mercedes-AMG GT R

Mercedes-AMG GT R

Mercedes-AMG GT R

Mercedes-AMG GT R

Mercedes-AMG GT R

Mercedes-AMG GT R

Mercedes-AMG GT R

Mercedes-AMG GT R


Maurizio Spinali

Giornalista, nato tra le pagine di riviste per car addicted come Evo e TopGear, scrive per il Corriere della SeraElaborare e Al Volante. Si divide da sempre tra due mondi, quello dell’auto e quello della letteratura. Ama i videogiochi.


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