The venue for this presentation was the Brooklands circuit in Britain, which is now the home of the automotive experience centre "Mercedes-Benz World".
The AMG GT R is a road-going sports car with motor racing genes. With its innovative technical solutions it offers an impressive driving experience. It combines the driving dynamics of the AMG GT3 racing car with the everyday practicality of the AMG GT.
"We have defined every single component dedicated to performance. The result is an overall composition which reflects our motto: ‘Handcrafted by racers’. That makes this sports car a milestone when it comes to driving dynamics." Tobias Moers, Chairman of Mercedes-AMG GmbH, said of the car.
The concept with front mid-engine and transmission in transaxle configuration on the rear axle, a tried-and-tested feature of the AMG GT and AMG GT S, makes for a beneficial rear-biased weight distribution of 47.3 to 52.7. In conjunction with the vehicle's low centre of gravity, this translates into agile handling and permits high cornering speeds. It has a power-to-weight ratio of 2.66 kilograms per hp.
The low-slung front section and the forwards-inclined radiator grille create a distinctive "shark nose" impression and make the car appear to sit lower on the road. At the same time, this shape lowers the vehicle's back-pressure point, enhancing the flow of cooling air and the car's aerodynamic performance.
The AMG 4.0-litre twin-turbo engine in the AMG GT R has an output of 585hp, which is 55 75hp more than the previous top-of-the-range engine in the GT S. The peak torque of 700 Nm is available between 1900 and 5500 rpm.
The increase in performance was achieved with the help of new turbochargers with modified compressor machining, smaller wastegate aneroid capsule and sharpened engine mapping. The boost pressure supplied by the turbochargers has been increased from 1.2 bar in the AMG GT to 1.35 bar. In addition, the exhaust ports have been optimised and the compression ratio modified. The entire combustion process has been retuned.
A special engineering feat is the new active aerodynamics profile, which is concealed almost invisibly in the underbody in front of the engine. At a speed of 80 km/h in RACE mode, this carbon component, weighing only about two kilograms, automatically moves downward by about 40 millimetres and changes the airflow considerably. This process results in what is known as the Venturi effect, which additionally "sucks" the car onto the road and reduces the front-axle lift by around 40 kilograms at 250kph.
The driver can feel this in the steering: the AMG GT R is even more precise to steer when cornering at high speed and exhibits even better directional stability.
Another technical highlight improving the aerodynamics of the AMG GT R is the active air management system. This system has vertical louvres positioned in the lower area directly behind the front fascia. These louvres are electronically controlled and can be opened and closed in around a second by an electric motor to improve the airflow and consequently the aerodynamic performance.
The louvres are normally closed ‑ including at top speed, during braking and when cornering at high speed. This position lowers drag and makes it possible to route the air to the underbody to reduce front lift even further. Only once predefined components have reached certain temperatures and the demand for cooling air is particularly high do the louvres open and allow the maximum amount of cooling air to flow to the heat exchangers.
The AMG GT R comes with a roof made of high-grade carbon to underscore the high-contrast look of the vehicle.
The rear end features a few innovations: The new aluminium side walls widen the rear of the AMG GT R by a total of 57 millimetres, creating space for the larger 20-inch wheels and the wider track. Both measures make for improved traction while allowing higher cornering speeds.
Despite its higher engine output, extra width, chunkier tyres, larger rear aerofoil, raised cooling-air demand and increased downforce, the AMG GT R has a lower drag coefficient (Cd) than the AMG GT.
The suspension of the new AMG high-performance sports model is also systematically designed for racetrack use. Wishbones, steering knuckles and hub carriers on the front and rear axle are manufactured entirely out of forged aluminium in order to reduce the unsprung masses. The double-wishbone concept locates the wheel firmly, with minimal elastic movements. The high camber and toe-in stability results in high cornering speeds and also provides the driver with an optimum feel for the road when cornering at the extreme limits.
The new AMG GT R is even more sensitive to steering inputs thanks to standard-fit active rear-wheel steering, which is being used for the first time on a Mercedes-AMG model. The system offers an ideal combination of agility and stability ‑ handling characteristics that are normally in direct conflict.
Up to a speed of 100kph, the rear wheels are turned in the opposite direction to the front wheels, corresponding to a virtual shortening of the wheelbase. The advantage of the AMG GT R is far more agile when steering into bends, resulting in less steering effort. Once the speed of the AMG GT R exceeds 100kph, the system turns the rear wheels in the same direction as the front wheels, corresponding to a virtual lengthening of the wheelbase and improving handling stability.
The interior is inspired by motorsport. Light, manually adjustable AMG sports bucket seats upholstered in nappa leather and DINAMICA microfibre come as standard. The wide-looking dashboard is reminiscent of a powerful wing and continues the aviation design theme. Four central spotlight-style vents and the individual vents at the right and left ends of the dashboard reinforce this impression.
The new exhaust system aims for a racing car sound; it also saves around 6kg of weight compared with the AMG GT S thanks to the use of titanium for the rear silencer and thin-walled stainless steel for the front section of the exhaust system.
With its hexagonal form, the large tailpipe tip centred in the rear fascia emphasises the car's motor-racing character. Two more tailpipes are located on the left and right in the diffuser. Their tips are sheathed in carbon fibre like in motorsport to protect the diffuser against high exhaust temperatures.
The exhaust flaps open and close depending on the selected AMG DRIVE SELECT mode, although they can also be controlled individually using a separate button in the AMG DRIVE UNIT. In the "Comfort" and "Sport" settings, the low-frequency sound typical of a V-8 is designed for comfort. In "Sport Plus" and "RACE" modes, meanwhile, the sound composition is more emotive.
The Mercedes-AMG GT R can be ordered from Nov 21. Its European market launch will begin in March 2017.
