Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Mercedes-AMG's GT R blitzes the Nurburgring

By

2018 Mercedes-AMG GT R
Image used with permission by copyright holder
The Mercedes-AMG GT R is all about the Nurburgring. It was exhaustively tested at the legendary German racetrack, and even has a paint color named after it. So it would be pretty embarrassing if the AMG GT R didn’t post an impressive lap time.

Mercedes brass have nothing to worry about, though. In the hands of German car magazine Sport Auto, which routinely tests cars at the track, an AMG GT R completed a lap in 7:10.92. That puts this Mercedes in some pretty elite company.

Recommended Videos

The AMG GT R left elite performance cars like the Porsche 911 GT3 RS and Lamborghini Huracán LP610-4 in its wake. The Porsche recorded a 7:20 time, while the Lambo could only muster 7:28. The Mercedes also beat the 7:11.57 time set by the insane Gumpert Apollo supercar in 2009, which was the overall lap record for several years. The current lap record is 6:57, set by Porsche factory racing driver Marc Lieb in 2013, in a 918 Spyder.

The Nürburging has become an obsession for carmakers, both for its utility as a testing ground and the bragging rights fast lap times bring. Everything from exotic supercars to ordinary SUVs can be seen testing there, and it seems no self-respecting performance car can go on sale without posting a lap time. That’s largely down to the track’s reputation. It’s known as the “Green Hell” because of its difficulty and length (it’s over 10 miles long).

On paper, the AMG GT R appears just as formidable as the track that inspired it. Under the hood sits the same 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 used in the lesser AMG GT and GT S, but tuned to produce 577 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Mercedes says the GT R will do 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, and reach a top speed of 198 mph. It also features upgraded aerodynamics aids, adaptive suspension, and a rear-wheel steering system.

If all of that sounds good to you, get ready to pull out your checkbook this summer, when the AMG GT R goes on sale in the U.S.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Stephen Edelstein
Stephen Edelstein
Contributing Editor
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
The 2020 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350R remains hilariously hardcore
2020 ford shelby mustang gt350r performance and specs

Previous

Next

Read more
Mercedes-Benz G580 first drive: old-school off-roader goes electric
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

American car buyers mostly know Mercedes-Benz as a luxury brand. But for decades, the automaker has also produced the tough, rugged G-Class (also known as the Geländewagen or G-Wagen), an SUV not afraid to get its leather upholstery muddy. And now, this iconic Mercedes is going electric.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology — the final name of the SUV previously known as the EQG — isn’t the first electric off-roader. The Rivian R1S and R1T and GMC Hummer EV have proven that electric powertrains and off-roading are a great combination. But the electric G-Wagen is different because it’s based on an internal-combustion model — and a very traditional one at that.

Read more
Honda believes hydrogen semi trucks will make the case for fuel cells
Honda hydrogen fuel-cell semi truck.

Honda remains committed to hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, but the market for those vehicles remains limited. So Honda is looking at other uses for fuel cells -- including commercial trucks.

To show how that could work, Honda converted a semi truck to fuel-cell power, replacing its diesel engine with three fuel-cell modules. Together, the three modules produce a combined 321 horsepower, and can propel the truck to a top speed of 70 mph. There's enough onboard hydrogen storage capacity for a 400-mile range with a full load, Honda claims.

Read more