This car is the range-topper of Mercedes-AMG’s GT series of cars and will see an India launch within a month.
Under the hood sits Mercedes-AMG’s 4.0-litre, twin-turbo, V8 engine (codenamed M177) that puts out a massive 585hp and 700Nm of torque. The GT R’s claimed 0-100kph time is a mere 3.6 seconds and it can go on to hit a top speed of 317kph. Power is channelled via the same seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox found in other GT model cars but tweaked to suit this car.
The use of aluminium, titanium and carbon fibre have helped reduced weight. The car features a Panamericana grille and AMG has also fitted the GT R with a carbon fibre rear wing for added downforce of 155kg at its top speed of over 300kph.
There’s a heavily reworked double wishbone suspension system and the AMG Dynamic Select function lets you choose between three driving modes - Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus. The biggest change is the steering - the GT R is the first Mercedes-AMG model to have a rear-wheel steering. At speeds below 100kph, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to those at the front and above 100kph, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the front wheels, all this working to aid agility.
The GT R will rival the Porsche 911 Turbo and the Aston Martin Vantage V12 in India.