The “AMG green hell magno” paintwork of the new Mercedes-AMG GT R is a tribute to its testing ground –”Green Hell” is the nickname for a tortuous section of the Nurburgring circuit.
It’s where Mercedes-AMG sharpened the car’s dynamics and tested a high-tech aerodynamics aid almost invisible down low in front of the engine.
The carbon component weighs about 2kg and automatically moves downward by about 40mm to change the airflow considerably at speed to reduce the front-axle lift by around 40kg at 250km/h.
When the profile is extended, the radiator air outlet opens and guides the air flow towards the double rear diffuser. In addition, the drag coefficient is improved. As a result, the downforce on the rear axle remains at an unchanged high level, says Mercedes-AMG.
Another technical highlight, says the company, is the active air management system. Vertical louvres down low behind the front fascia can be opened and closed in around a second by an electric motor to improve the airflow.
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. This calls for highly intelligent and fast control.
This innovation was developed using computer simulation at first and then optimised during many hours in the wind tunnel. The results were confirmed in test drives on the demanding North Circuit of the Nurburgring
The upcoming AMG GT R carries more motorsport technology than any other Mercedes-AMG production car before it, says the carmaker – and that alone has two New Zealanders clamouring to get their hands on it.
“I know for a fact we have two customers who want one,” said Mercedes-Benz NZ general manager Ben Giffin. “They are well known to us as good Mercedes-Benz buyers, particularly AMGs. As we get closer to confirming pricing they’ll be signing confirmed orders.”
The ‘R’ is the third member of the go-faster AMG GT family – after the GT and GT3 race car – and will land in New Zealand towards the middle of next year.
“We are negotiating with Germany over the next eight weeks on pricing and what our allocation will look like,” said Giffin. As a guide the less expensive AMG GT is around NZ$275,000.
GT R was unveiled overnight at the historic Brooklands circuit in England. The car has been designed to combine the driving dynamics of the AMG GT3 with the everyday practicality of the AMG GT, says Mercedes-AMG.
It gets the usual package of high-end electronic gizmos and dynamic driver aids. New to the AMG GT R is active rear-wheel steering, nine-way adjustable traction control, and adjustable coil-over suspension.
“With the new AMG GT R, we have reached the next level of driving performance,” says Mercedes-AMG chief executive Tobias Moers. “This road-going sports car with motor-racing genes and innovative technical solutions offers an ultimate driving experience that allows people to feel our motorsport origins in every fibre.”
The car’s kerb weight is listed at 1555kg, thanks to an aluminium spaceframe chassis and bodyshell, steel boot lid, magnesium bonnet. Carbon fibre is used in the front wings, roof and the torque tube between engine and transmission.
At its heart is a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 delivering 430kW at 6250rpm and 700Nm between 1900-550rpm and driving the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch unit. Mercedes-AMG cites a 0-100km/h time of 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 318km/h.
Conventional suspension measures include the wider front and rear track as well as the standard-fit Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, 275/35 ZR 19 up front and 325/30 ZR 20 at the rear. The street-legal racing tyres allow faster laps and up to 50 per cent more mileage on the racetrack, says Mercedes-AMG.