Just when we though most of the 2017 models were announced, Mercedes dropped the bomb on us. The 2017 Mercedes AMG GT-R will be available this summer, and it will sit just above the standard AMG GT model. Knowing Mercedes (and their history) it won’t be long before they introduce a Black Series model of the AMG GT. Only then will we have the full order of the AMG GT lineup. The GT-R (the name is yet to be decided since GT-R might be conflicting with the Nissan GT-R), despite being similar to the standard AMG GT in many ways, this version offers a few unique details special to it. Without any further to do let’s delve exactly into the details.
We do have a few renderings to work with, but the real world images are based on just some spy shots where the car is heavily camouflaged. Still, we can conclude a few things from that as well. For starters, the GT-R will retain similar appearance and styling as the standard car. This isn’t that big of a surprise as most hardcore models from any manufacturers generally tend to have the same look just with more aggression and boldness thankfully to few added bits and pieces and more pronounced aerodynamic parts.
2017 Mercedes AMG GT-R Exterior Design
The front fascia seems to have a bigger front grille with larger intakes at the very corner of the fascia so it can supplier more air to both engine and brakes. The front spoiler also appears noticeably bigger, but it could just be an optical illusion thanks to the camo. We’ll have to wait and see whether we were right about this.
We expected to see similar vents on the side to those of the AMG GT, but the lack of these on spied vehicle indicates that they’ve left them out of the prototype car for certain purposes, or they’re simply hidden so well that we just can’t see them. The vents (should they be present) are likely to be located further back the line of the car, somewhere around the rear wheels. This should help with the distinction from the standard AMG GT. The side skirts appear more aggressive too, but nowhere nearly close to what we saw on the rendering of the GT-R, but the rendering is always offered to impress you so have that in mind. The side skirts should come with large vents at the end for maximum airflow to the rear (both for the brakes and for the tires).
The back seems to be the segment where we will have most changes for the AMG GT-R. As you move closer to the rear, you start noticing more features special to the GT-R. For instance, the taillights seem to be the same, but the rear deck lid now has a permanently mounted spoiler for example. This isn’t just a visual enhancement, but functional too. It adds a lot more downforce to the body of the GT-R, something engineers claim it needs, and we tend to trust them on this issue. There are two vents on the inside of the taillights and below, plus there’s a very aggressive rear diffuser along with the accompanying dual exhaust tips.
Interior
Up until this point, there haven’t been any pictures of the interior of the GT-R nor have there been official details. We expect it to be similar to the GT and the GT-S, given how Mercedes tends to do these special high-performance versions of their already high-performance vehicles. The same large high-mounted center stack is almost 100 percent set to make an appearance and so is the gorgeous infotainment screen just above the four central HVAC vents. If anything, the screen may be bigger by an inch or so, but we reckon it will remain the same to save cost and to simplify the production process. The instrument cluster may very well be replaced with a digital one, but Mercedes does love the analog needles. Whether they choose to stick with old school or go to the S-Class digital screen is up to them entirely, and it will hardly influence your decision to buy it or not.
The steering wheel is expected to receive some minor details just like the rest of the interior. The flat bottom is most likely going to remain, the GT-R being even sportier than the standard car. All in all, everyone we talked to has said that they expect the GT-R to have a cabin similar to that of the standard car but let’s not forget, this is Mercedes if anyone has that surprise factor it’s them. With summer just around the corner, we won’t have to wait long to find out whether our assumptions were true or just that, assumptions.
Engine and Transmission
The hood should also house the same 4.0-liter hot-V V8 engine. In standard GT trim, it develops 456 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. When fitted to the GT-S power rises to 503 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. Although the same unit is going to be used, we can’t say for certain how much power it’s going to have. Upwards of 500 is a given, but realistically we’re probably going to see it go into the mid 500’s, i.e. 550. A source close to Mercedes said that unofficially it would pump out 570 hp and 552 lb-ft of torque, both figures much higher than what we guessed. Nothing is official just yet however so we shouldn’t get our hopes up prematurely.
The standard GT can complete the 0 to 60 miles per hour sprint in 3.9 seconds with the GT-S reaching the same 60 miles per hour in just 3.7 seconds. With the 550+ hp output and weight reductions, it’s likely to have, expect the GT-R to be able to achieve the same feat in 3.4 or 3.5 seconds. Tires and weight is a limiting factor in reducing it below that, but ultimately, we wouldn’t mind being surprised if that means the GT-R will dip into a region closer to 3 seconds. The top speed should be closer to 200 if not 200 mph itself. The GT-S can hit 193, so with 50 or so more hp (give or take) it’s reasonable to guess 200 miles per hour. One thing that needs to be considered is additional aerodynamic downforce that might influence the top speed.
Price
It’s still too soon to discuss prices, but we do know a few things. First, the GT-S costs $130,000 for the base model. The standard GT is around 120k and once you start adding features to both they can reach mind-blowing figures. We could be wrong, but we’re expecting the GT-R to be somewhere in the ballpark of 140 and 150k.
