Mercedes-AMG is clearly not yet done with their two-door GT despite all eyes being on the brand’s surest expansion into the sports luxury category with a four-door Panamera-beater. But to not let us forget about their motorsport pedigree, they’ve let this little number out of the gate.
It’s a car they’ve been teasing since the latter stages of 2016, and we can now confirm that the GT4 moniker - that many (including us) suspected would be handed to that aforementioned inaugural four-door saloon of theirs - would instead go to this turn-key racer, which was just launched at the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium.
“The GT4 segment is getting more and more popular. The production-based concept is an important factor, especially when you want to get started in motorsport as a team or as a driver. For some teams, the GT4 category also serves as a sensible addition to their existing involvement in GT3, for instance to support young drivers,” says Tobias Moers, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.
“For us as a manufacturer, GT4 competition is a logical next step to extend our Customer Racing Programme. After the achievements in GT3 racing, the Mercedes-AMG GT4 is opening another valuable platform for us to prove our competence as a globally successful sports car and performance brand. There is no doubt that we will once again be setting new benchmarks in the segment with the latest member in our Customer Racing Programme.”
It’s basically an AMG GT R that’s been given a thorough FIA GT4-spec treatment. As a result, owners will not be able to drive it anywhere but a closed circuit, and seeing as how the cabin is void of any creature comforts (air conditioning is optional), they’d need the proper attire and/or gear to get properly situated for some fast action - that single fixed carbon bucket with integrated headrest looks oddly accommodating, though.
Certainly, those same owners will be able to experience a thrill close to that of a real race car driver. It isn't as fast or as diabolically hardcore as the previously launched homologated AMG GT3 back in 2015, but at least isn’t nearly as expensive at an estimated AU$293k (or 198,850 Euros, to be exact).
By contrast, the GT3-spec car could be bought by some lucky individuals provided they have the AU$630,000 it retailed for back in 2015. We’re more than sure that at least 90 percent of the racing sensations are faithfully reproduced in the GT4, though.
That said, one area where its more expensive older brother separates itself was its rather special 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 that sat mid-mounted behind the front axle, one of the final outings of AMG’s visceral big atmospheric motors before the reign of turbocharging. It’s not like the GT4 suffers, though, as it inherits a seemingly stock M178 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 from the showroom-ready AMG GT S.
It produces 375kW and 600Nm, which is curiously less than the GT S in its standard tune, but some engine parameters are assumed to be configurable by the driver, and as such the 0-100km/h acceleration time is highly dependent on setup and therefore quoted merely as “under 4s”. Drive reaches the rear wheels via an adjustable limited slip differential and a rear-mounted six-speed hydro-pneumatic sequential transmission.
While much of the car’s structure is carried over from the GT R, it has been through quite an extensive weight reduction program courtesy of the required additional strength and safety provided by key carbon fibre components. The composite weave is used to construct nearly all the outer aero bits - front splitter, rear splitter, rear wing - as well as a new FIA-spec carbon driver cell (supplemented by the steel roll cage), and certain chassis pieces.
Finally, there’s the 18-inch AMG forged light-alloy wheels that wrap around huge 390mm front (and 355mm rear) carbon ceramic composite brake rotors and competition-grade callipers, connected to new fully adjustable double wishbone suspension. The degree of ABS intervention can be fully adjustable too, or you know, disabled altogether.
For more on Mercedes-AMG cars, check out our Showroom.
