Mercedes-AMG GT R spied testing

It’s no secret Mercedes-AMG boss Tobias Moers wants to expand the GT range with a more hardcore version.

Recently emerged footage proves the company is closer to doing so, with a hot GT mule spied belting around the Nurburgring’s Nordschleife, revealing the incoming performance flagship’s latest form. Poised to be called the Mercedes-AMG GT R, the high-performance brand will pit its sharpened supercar against Porsche’s manic 911 GT3 RS.

It’s reported the GT R will pick up new technology like four-wheel steering, active aerodynamics, and more power in its mount against Porsche, and benefit with the requisite weight drop. While the footage catches the new GT R only twice during its testing, it looks quick. The test driver not holding back on the test runs.

Compared to what we’ve seen on GT R prototypes before, this example has deleted its high mounted fender flics and protruding diffuser, and replaced them with a cleaner, wider front bar. The new front bumper instead features enlarged cooling areas and single flics on its side.

Things up back of the GT R haven’t changed from previous sighting though, as the new prototype still bellows from exhaust tips that feature huddle in the centre of a serious diffuser.

Moers has also confirmed to sister publication Wheels the new GT will lap a racetrack faster than the old SLS Black, which completed the feat in 7 minutes and 25.67 seconds.

Mercedes-AMG should reveal the new GT R in production trim this year. And with the Nurburgring banishing its pesky speed limits only yesterday, maybe it’ll reveal a smaller lap time as well.