Mercedes Unleashes the AMG GTR Pro: 2018 LA Auto Show

• Mercedes-Benz unveils limited edition AMG GT R Pro in LA
• Borrows most design elements from its GT3 and GT4 race car siblings
• Powered by the same 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo engine as other AMGs
• The V8 motor makes 585PS and 700Nm of torque on the GT R Pro
• Power figures remain similar to the GT R, but the Pro benefits from weight reduction and state-of-the-art aerodynamics
• AMG GT R Pro now the fastest production Mercedes around the Nurburgring

Mercedes Benz has added an all new top-of-the-line variant of the bonkers AMG GT family called the AMG GT R Pro. Unveiled at the 2018 LA Auto Show, the limited edition beast from the mad hatters at AMG is lighter and faster than the regular AMG GT R. Developed as a track-centric machine taking learnings from the AMG GT3 and GT4 race cars, the all new GT R Pro is loaded with a ton of goodies.  

The learnings from motorsport have been implemented on the new GT R Pro in the development of its suspension, lightweight construction, aerodynamics and looks.

The folks at Merc claim that optimised specific power output, a new suspension setup, lightweight-design bucket seats and lightweight wheels have significantly enhanced driving dynamics for faster lap times on the racetrack. The Pro even gets aerodynamic fine-tuning resulting in a higher downforce for immense grip on those sharp corners, making it extremely agile.

The GT R Pro is powered by the same direct injection, twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 from the GT S, but has been tuned to produce a massive 585PS of power and 700Nm of torque (63PS/30Nm more than the GT S). Mated to AMG’s 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, the GT R Pro takes just 3.6 seconds to reach triple-digit speeds and can go all the way to its electronically limited top speed of 318kmph. The same engine in the AMG GT Roadster produces 476PS of power and 630Nm of peak torque. Mated to the same transmission, the Roadster takes 4.0 seconds to reach 100kmph and has a top speed of 302kmph.

The track-focused nature of the new GT R Pro is even more evident with the fact that it comes fitted with the new AMG coilover suspension which offers choices for tailoring the setup to a particular circuit. In professional motorsport, the driver is not only able to set the spring preload length mechanically, but can also adjust the compression and rebound of the dampers. In the new GT R Pro, this is done quickly and precisely without tools via a click system with an integral adjustment dial on the damper. The compression rate is adjusted separately for high-speed and low-speed movements. This means that the settings can be dialled-in for slow and fast compression movements, as is common practice in motorsport. This allows influencing the body dive and roll as the well as the traction of the AMG GT R Pro even more selectively.

Another design theme borrowed from its GT3 and GT4 siblings is weight shedding, and the Pro gets the full treatment. The front axle is fitted with an adjustable torsion bar made of lightweight carbon fibre. Its counterpart at the rear, which is made of steel, is likewise adjustable and also saves weight due to its hollow tube design.

The AMG GT R is already fitted with Uniball spherical bearings at the lower wishbones of the rear axle. The AMG GT R Pro now gets these bearings for the upper wishbones. They are significantly more wear-resistant than conventional wishbone bearings. In addition to a host of carbon-fibre components, weight has also been saved by the standard-fit ceramic high-performance compound braking system exclusively with black painted brake callipers as well as by the AMG bucket seats made of clear-coated carbonfibre.

The new light controls of the LED high performance headlights now show parallels to the AMG GT 4-door coupé and therefore further enhance the AMG GT family connection. A tri-functional, arched light guide takes on the functions of the daytime running light, navigation light and turn signals.

On the inside, it gets a standard fully digital instrument display with 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch multimedia display on the centre console. The instrument cluster offers an entirely new screen design with the three AMG-specific display styles “Classic”, “Sporty” or “Supersport”. In the “Supersport" mode, there is also extensive additional information specific to AMG, such as a prompt borrowed from motorsport to shift up in manual transmission mode.

Not only does the new GT R Pro drive like a racing car, it also looks the part. The standard-fit Carbon Package I with front splitter, fins in the wings, trim strips in the side sills and a diffuser with high-quality clear-coated carbon-fibre finish emphasise the proximity to motorsport, as does the redesigned carbonfibre roof with a lowered centre.

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The special status is also underscored by the car wrap with racing stripes running over the bonnet, roof and hatch as well as along the sides of the vehicle. This car wrap is light green exclusively in combination with the selenite grey paint finish. For all other colour variants, the stripes come in dark-grey matt. Optionally, the car wrap can also be omitted completely.

And if you had any more doubts as to how capable the new AMG GT R Pro is on track, wait till you hear this. Merc has already put the Pro on test at the Nurburgring with AMG GT3 racing driver Maro Engel behind the wheel, and it did the run in a staggering 7.04.632 lap time. Not only is the GT R  Pro the fastest production Merc on the block by a fair margin now (the AMG GT R did it in 7.10.92 minutes), it is also among the top 10 fastest cars around the ‘ring.