2020 Mercedes-AMG GT3 is Keeping the Legendary V8 Spirit Alive
You can't get AMG's fantastic 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine in a road car anymore. But they still build an AMG GT3 racer with it.
For privateers who love a large volume V8
The livery might be 1970s retro, but this is in fact the 2020 model year Mercedes-AMG GT3 customer race car. If you are a gentleman racer who wants a top car, without having to go through the trouble of commissioning a build yourself, the AMG GT3 is a great option. It is also powered by a legendary engine that was never an option with any of the road-going AMG GT models.
Everyone's favorite AMG V8
Mounted way back in the GT3's engine bay, behind the front axle, is the most potent version of AMG's legendary M159 engine. Although most of AMG's road-going cars have now moved to the twin-turbocharged 4-liter V8, this high-revving 6.2-liter V8 remains a much-loved engine among enthusiasts.
>>Join the conversation about the AMG GT3 race car right here in the MBWorld Forum!
Dry-sump for better balance
Like all AMG V8s, the 6,2-liter mills in these 2020 GT3 cars are built by hand - and proudly have the creator immortalized with a plaque. Fittingly for a competition car, the engine features dry-sump lubrication to reduce its center of gravity by allowing AMG's engineers to mount the V8 even lower. Power depends on the regulations you are racing in, but it runs a true 550hp with ease.
>>Join the conversation about the AMG GT3 race car right here in the MBWorld Forum!
Dive planes - but not like a submarine's
Beyond the legendary engine, the 2020 AMG GT3 features an array of very advanced aerodynamic details. Just have a look at those shapely front dive planes above the corner of the front bumper. Below them, you see the cleverly-shaped splitter edge. Both elements work together to ensure excellent downforce, giving those front wheels superior grip in high-speed cornering.
>>Join the conversation about the AMG GT3 race car right here in the MBWorld Forum!
Have wing, can fly - nearly
Unlike AMG's road-going GT cars, which have retractable rear wings, the GT3 version has a huge fixed wing. It has a classic box-section shape and is suspended on sliders, which can be manually adjusted.
>>Join the conversation about the AMG GT3 race car right here in the MBWorld Forum!
Lightweight wing support
A closer image of the AMG GT3's rear wing structure shows the elegant mechanical design. The simple fastener bracket allows the wing to mount to the car's rear decklid. All excess material has been machined from the supporting struts, with the aim of saving weight.
>>Join the conversation about the AMG GT3 race car right here in the MBWorld Forum!
The rear aero magic is a collaboration
Air is also accelerated and cleared from the rear wheel arches by those bumper cut-outs. That means the brakes are constantly being vented by new, cooler air - thereby preventing heat soak and brake fade under racing conditions.
>>Join the conversation about the AMG GT3 race car right here in the MBWorld Forum!
Hey, where did the top and bottom half of the steering wheel go?
The AMG GT3 is a pure race car inside. A collection of intricate switches and dials control the car's vital mechanical functions. There is also a clever auto engine-start feature, which fires-up the big V8 the moment it is lowered from jacks. The steering wheel is a twin-grip helm, which is great for racing, but quite useless at any parking attempt or three-point turn.
>>Join the conversation about the AMG GT3 race car right here in the MBWorld Forum!
Will survive a front crash and keep on running
A feature that is very different from last season's car is the way it protects the V8 engine's cooling in a front-on crash. Look closely at the grille and you will notice a horizontal beam running across, in front of the radiator. This acts as a primary protection brace, in case of a wall or tire barrier impact, when you do accidentally get it wrong on a circuit.
>>Join the conversation about the AMG GT3 race car right here in the MBWorld Forum!
For help with service and maintenance of your car, check out the how-to section of MBWorld.org.