Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro is Ultimate V8 Road Racer

Those go-faster stripes are for real

One can argue that there is not much to be improved with Mercedes-AMG's GT R. The two-door sports car built by AMG is an outstanding example of that enticing blend between a front-engine V8 and addictive rear-wheel-drive handling.

But with AMG there is never the sense of anything being adequate. The Mercedes-Benz speed merchants from Affalterbach always quest to do more. And with the GT R, that quest has now culminated in the Pro version. This is essentially a road legal GT4 specification racing car.

A V8 heart that is mostly the same

AMG’s 4-liter biturbo V8 is a modern technical marvel. The GT R Pro does not boast additional power on top the 577hp. this fantastically characterful German V8 engine produces. But it does have some trick software that helps you best deploy all those ponies.

The GT R Pro features a nine-stage traction control system, which should allow for adequate latitude to accommodate a host of driving requirements.

For mild drivers who merely want to enjoy cruising about, to those who desire to venture right up to and beyond the limits of mechanical grip, those nine traction control settings will provide the correct blend of intervention for any driving scenario.

>>Join the conversation about the Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro right here in the MBWorld Forum!

Trick aero and coil over suspension

AMG’s engineers have focused on aerodynamics and suspension tuning to extract additional performance from the GT R platform.

Scrutinize the front and you’ll immediately notice the upgraded aero, differentiating this Pro model from other GT Rs. There’s a much wider and shapelier front spoiler/splitter. And attached to the outer flanks of the front bumper, are carbon-fiber aero winglets, typical of AMG’s racing cars.

>>Join the conversation about the Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro right here in the MBWorld Forum!

Ready for the track

Beyond the aero upgrades, this Pro edition GT R features manually adjustable suspension at each of its four corners. Owners can use specially provided tools to adjust the spring preload and dampers for both high- and low-speed compression. This is all facilitated by the swapping out of AMG’s factory GT R suspension components for a set of custom coil-overs. What you get with the AMG GT R Pro, is basically GT4 racing car specification suspension.

>>Join the conversation about the Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro right here in the MBWorld Forum!

Qualifying those go faster stripes

The AMG GT R Pro is a road racer. It is equally comfortable on track but can deal with a daily commute – if it absolutely must.

But what do all those trick aero and suspension bits total to? Do they really make a substantial difference? Well, to put this to the test, there is only one venue which can adjudicate. That is the Nürburgring.

During timed laps at the Nürburgring, the AMG GT R Pro ran a 7:04.6, which is six seconds faster than normal AMG GT R. Six seconds are a notable gain. Its advantage in outright timed lap speed is entirely made up by aerodynamic efficiency and superior suspension.

For those who desire the ultimate road-going GT R, AMG is only building 750 units of the Pro version. Each of them destined to be a future classic.

>>Join the conversation about the Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro right here in the MBWorld Forum!

For service and maintenance information on your car, check the how to section of MBWorld.com.