Skip advert
Advertisement

Mercedes-AMG GT R sets new sports car record at the Nürburgring

New Nürburgring time beats other rear-drive sports cars including the Dodge Viper ACR and Lexus LFA

Mercedes-AMG has lain claim to a new Nürburgring lap record with the AMG GT R, the 'Green Hell Magno'-coloured car setting a time around the Green Hell of 7:10.9.

That time makes it the fastest rear-wheel drive sports car yet - ahead of the 7:12.13 of a Dodge Viper ACR, and the 7:14.64 of a Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package.

Advertisement - Article continues below

While there's very little regulation to how lap times are set at the 'Ring, Mercedes' time also puts it near the top of the overall rankings for production road cars - still topped by the 6:57 set by Marc Lieb in a Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach Package.

Both times were overseen by Germany's Sport Auto magazine, which has conducted or overseen several 'Ring records. One that wasn't was the time set by the regular AMG GT S - 7:35, over 24 seconds adrift of the GT R.

> Mercedes-AMG GT review - is this the Porsche 911's biggest threat?

The difference is courtesy of an extensive range of changes between the conventional GTs and the R version. The 4-litre, dry-sumped V8 gets a power boost to 577bhp with 516lb ft of torque, altered gear ratios and a lighter flywheel.

The car as a whole is lighter by 15kg, while the aero kit produces up to 155kg of downforce, and the traction control system features settings derived from that of the GT3 race car. There's rear-wheel steering too, for tighter cornering below 62mph and greater stability above it.

Priced at £143,245, the AMG GT R goes on sale in 2017. You can read our full preview here.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991.2) v Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro – battle of the road-racers
Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991.2) v Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro
Group tests

Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991.2) v Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro – battle of the road-racers

The first AMG GT to wear the Pro badge was the extreme, bewinged GT R Pro. Here's how it stacks up against the 991.2-generation GT3 RS
4 Nov 2024
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

TVR: Why we think it’s all over
TVR Griffith
Opinion

TVR: Why we think it’s all over

There’s barely a flicker of life when it comes to TVR and the ‘new’ Griffith. We can only fear the worst
17 Jul 2025
Save £30k on a new Range Rover and buy a Renault 5 with the savings!
Range Rover
News

Save £30k on a new Range Rover and buy a Renault 5 with the savings!

Discounts on new Range Rovers are so big you could buy a new Renault 5 with the money you save…
15 Jul 2025
​Best hot hatchbacks 2025 – affordable new performance cars
Best hot hatchbacks 2025
Best cars

​Best hot hatchbacks 2025 – affordable new performance cars

Contracted though the hot hatch market may be, there are still some great models out there, from the electric Alpine A290 to the five-cylinder Audi RS…
14 Jul 2025