Mad Mercedes unveiled

THE hotly anticipated Mercedes-AMG GT R appears set to make its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in June, with Michelin listing it as an exhibitor in the event’s Supercar Paddock.

This will be the first time the car has been unveiled in public, although spy shots of the car in full camouflage gear have been seen during development in the Arctic.

When it goes on sale, the two-seater, hardcore variant of the GT sports car is expected to compete directly with the Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

Alongside an enhanced engine, the track-focused car features a number of aerodynamic upgrades aimed at improving airflow to and from the engine bay, while providing increased downforce on both axles.

These include a new front bumper with a huge splitter element, modified ducts in the front wings, widened rear wings, a boot-mounted carbon fibre rear spoiler, a new rear bumper with integrated lateral air duct to cool the rear differential, a massive hexagonal central exhaust, and a reworked dual-channel diffuser.

The most distinctive stylistic feature, however, is arguably the eye-popping ‘Panamericana’ front grille, which was previously seen on the track-only GT3 race car in late 2015, and gives the car an impressively menacing appearance.

Under the bonnet, the car will feature a tuned version of the twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine from the GT and GT S, with new additions including a revised inlet manifold, extra boost pressure and a free-flowing titanium exhaust system.

It is predicted to deliver some 570 bhp and 552 pound-feet of torque, and should outstrip the GT S, which reaches 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds.

The underpinnings have also been customised, with adjustable springs and dampers, revised bushings up front and a rear axle that bolts directly onto the body structure. 

Production of what is expected to be a limited run is due to start before the end of the year.