Mercedes AMG GT GT3 Prototype Spied Lapping Nürburgring
Now that the Mercedes-AMG GT has found its way onto the road, the time has come for the special editions to enter the spotlight. Speaking of which, a GT3 prototype has just been spied lapping the Nürburgring with a comprehensive aerodynamic package.
While a complete wide body kit is not present, the fenders are wider and the splitter on the front fascia looks massive. The downforce parade is completed by winglets placed on the front fascia, as well as on the front wings – the latter now being the latest aero trend.
Basically, all the goodies of a Black Series treatment, wider tracks included, are here. As usual, this dark knight will be the most powerful model in the line-up.
Nevertheless, the Germans are most likely playing a Joker card here. While AMG boss Tobias Moers has confirmed the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, such a model usually arrives later in a vehicle’s life.
Mercedes-Benz launched the GT in 2014, confirming the usual life cycle of seven or eight years. Seeing the prototype now means it will most likely go into production in 2016 as a 2017 model year, which sounds like an appropriate time frame for the launch of a road-going version of the Mercedes-AMG GT GT3 racecar seen in Geneva this year.
There has been a series of reports since soon after the sportscar was launched in 2014, which indicate Mercedes-AMG wants to introduce the same multi-editions pathway that Porsche has been successfully using for its 911.
Instead of a Black Series, all the camouflage is probably hiding the street-legal track machine. As you’ve already figured out, this will be a direct hit aimed somewhere between the 911 GT3 and GT3 RS, but the Mercedes will use a different designation. When it comes to the road, the “GT3” moniker belongs to Zuffenhausen, as the recently-won battle with Aston Martin has shown.
In terms of sheer power, the car will not climb past 550 hp – even so the V8 will probably use different turbines, but it will have less weight to carry around, as a carbon fibre diet is expected. As usual with such models, sheer acceleration or top speed figures alone won’t be enough to explain them, but a few high-speed corners behind the wheel should do the trick. And it will all be communicated through a new Nurburgring lap time.
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