The AMG GT range is soon to have a new flagship, one that’s even more powerful and focused than the GT R. Called the Black, it will reportedly boast lots of serious aerodynamics and a 4.0-litre M178 twin-turbo V8 tuned to generate around 470kW.
Not only does that blow past the current highest tune of 430kW by some margin, but it might mark the final (and ultimate) iteration of the GT we know today, paving the way for an all-new successor to Affalterbach’s first and very well received standalone model.
The car has reportedly been in development as far back as 2016, but only in recent months has been subject to an accelerated schedule possibly following the work intensity winding down from their efforts to present the world with the GT 4-Door the company revealed at last week’s 2018 Geneva Motor Show.
According to Autocar, though, despite this most potent GT coupe being spied undergoing tests at the Nurburgring in a body that’s very similar to today’s GT R, AMG aren’t planning to launch it before 2020. From early spy photos, the main differences surround the car’s construction, utilising more lightweight material, a focus that should also greatly effect sparsity of its interior.
That wait is a curious detail as it paints a company that’s being strategically reserved about its future releases. Overall, the timing indicates that AMG GT Black Series’ introduction is dependent upon their CLS-based AMG GT 4-Door hitting the market first, laying the groundwork somewhat for what could be the final GT coupe of this generation, tying off the model neatly for the debut of a replacement possibly 1 or 2 years down the road.
Given that Mercedes-AMG had already revealed power figures for the most powerful variant of the GT 4-Door (430kW), it’s likely that the GT Black Series Coupe would improve upon this output if not mirror it entirely. While the 4-Door is expected to have hybrid augmentation some time into its life cycle, this most hardcore GT coupe should be relying on pure V8 power to spin its rear wheels.
Again, this points to the company laying some groundwork, and in this case perhaps it would be a next-generation AMG GT that would have electrification built-in as standard, following the example set by the 4-Door.
All that said, it’s clear that even with its increased power and additional aerodynamic advantage over the GT R, the Black won’t be in contention for any kind of lap record. Specifically the crown of being the fastest production car to lap the Nurburgring Nordschleife, currently held by the Porsche 911 GT2 RS which dethroned the Lamborghini Huracan Performante’s record set just months prior.
With the 488 Pista, also revealed at last week’s Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari seems intent on throwing their own dog into this suddenly intense fight. Of course, time will tell if Maranello can claim the title back under the Italian banner, but by the time the AMG GT Black is expected to hit showrooms (2020), many cars would have caught up with that level of performance.
Then again, because of AMG’s Project One hypercar with its F1-derived powertrain and outrageous race-inspired body, the GT black might not need to lift a finger in order to protect the German’s honour on their home track.
For more on Mercedes-AMG cars, check out our Showroom.
