The Mercedes-Amg “Green Hell” GT R launched in Malaysia recently is not green. The white RM1.7 million beast is Mercedes-AMG’s quickest sports car and arguably the most expensive model within the Mercedes family.
The “Beast of Green Hell” made its local debut at the Sepang International Circuit on November 2. (Green Hell was the nickname given by Sir Jackie Stewart for the 20.8km-long Nordschleife, or North Loop).
THE UNVEILING
The launch was in conjunction with a week-long Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience at the circuit. The whole programme involved hundreds of invited guests who experienced thrilling tarmac action with a full line-up of Mercedes-AMG sports cars and professional driving instructors.
The GT R is the most extreme Mercedes-AMG product currently available that is road legal.
“The Mercedes-AMG GT R is a street-legal race car which spearheads the AMG GT family, featuring many desirable characteristics of the GT3,” said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia vice-president of sales and marketing Mark Raine at the launch.
“It has exceptional driving dynamics and boasts benchmark performance statistics. This beast is without a doubt a true testimony to AMG’s racing DNA, the driving performance brand of Mercedes-Benz,” Raine added.
No dispute there. The GT R boasts 585hp and 700Nm from its twin-turbo V8 engine, conquering 0-100kph in 3.6 seconds on to a top speed of 318kph.
We had a taste of its prowess, agility and roaring sound during the launch. Too bad, we could not drive it. Instead, it was only a taxi ride in the GT R track monster, with Australian race driver Peter Hackett at the helm.
Still, it was a two-lap high-speed taxi ride to cap off the first day of the Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience.
The entire programme saw members of the media and invited guests indulging in a load of sessions in various AMG models from different classes.
The sessions included Launch Control (AMG’s race start system for quick acceleration off the line) and a drift.
The latter involved the cars’ rear tyres using Easy Drift Tyre Covers on a wet surface, meaning you get a lot of grip in front but very little grip in the rear.
There was also a thrilling accelerate to 100kph, sudden hard braking and steer-and-avoid exercise.
MORE ABOUT THE GT R
From the world’s most demanding racetrack directly onto the road, never before has Mercedes-AMG packed so much motorsport technology into a production car than into the new GT R.
A prominent fixed wing accentuates the racing DNA of the AMG GT R while a new AMG Panamericana, direct from the AMG GT 3 customer racing car grille, dominates the front fascia.
The engineers at Mercedes-AMG incorporated a lightweight, rigid 90 per cent aluminium body and space frame. The use of lighter carbon fibre for components further improves the performance, as the lower centre of gravity ensures the car is glued to the tarmac.
For control, the GT R takes in the new AMG coil-over suspension. This is combined with the AMG Ride Control continuously variable, adaptive damping system. The system is electronically-controlled and automatically adapts the damping on each wheel to the current handling situation, the speed and the road conditions.
The driver can adjust the damping characteristics at the touch of a button in the AMG Drive Unit, or by using the AMG Dynamic Select drive modes. Three modes are available: “Comfort”, “Sport” and “Sport Plus”.
Having spent most of its development time on the Nordschleife of the N¸rburgring racetrack, Mercedes-AMG said the exceptional lap time of 7:10.92 in the Green Hell came as no surprise.
The GT R’s power is transferred to the rear wheels via an AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT seven-speed dual clutch transmission.
Under the skin, an extensively modified suspension, improved aerodynamics and intelligent lightweight construction translate into an exceptionally dynamic driving experience. And thus, a mean machine.