@wheelsaustralia 91
on the GT S; the rear even chunkier, measuring 57mm
wider – “and there are flaps in the floor that close at
speed to improve the aero efficiency”.
These carbonfibre flaps are mounted just ahead of
the engine and move 40mm downwards above 80km/h,
producing a Venturi effect, sucking the car to the road.
Ground effects isn’t new – it’s been all the rage in F1
for 35 years – but it is effective. Moers says the flaps
reduce front-end lift by 40kg at 250km/h.
Other aero advances include front bar vents that
open and close to further reduce lift and direct air to
radiators. There’s a large double-diffuser at the rear,
and that rather subtle carbonfibre rear wing can be
adjusted manually. Thanks to the magic of all this
coil-overs with adjustable spring rates and adaptive
dampers to provide what Moers says is “the next level
of what we offer in terms of dynamics; it’s much stiffer
and [more] aggressive”.
Then there’s four-wheel steering, fitted for the first
time on an AMG – and a Mercedes for that matter.
“You can feel it working,” Moers enthuses. “It’s great
and provides so much more stability.”
This addition allowed AMG’s engineers to further
modify the steering with a faster, more direct variable
ratio rack. “We can afford to make [the steering] faster
because it’s so stable at high speed.”
The GT R’s new steering set-up will make its way into
the rest of the AMG GT family later this year, fixing a
ness in the current range.
e engine is the same basic 4.0-litre V8 as the
ar GT, but new turbochargers and more boost push
T R’s outputs to 430kW and 700Nm – a hike of
/50Nm over the GT S.
se has always been an AMG strength and there’s
here, thanks to three exhaust pipes. In Comfort
port modes only the hexagonal central exhaust is
ged, but dial the onboard electronics to Sport+ or
and flaps in the system open to activate the wider
embedded in the carbonfibre rear diffuser.
goal is not just increased volume, but a unique
signature. “Sure, it is louder, but it has its own
cter,” says Moers.
e the regular GT, the GT R employs a seven-speed
clutch transmission to shuffle its power to the
xle, but it has different ratios and a shorter final-
“Everything is different,” says Moers, sweeping
and through the air. “The ratios, the shift times,
changed it all.”
h track-focused Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber
measures 275/35R19 up front and 325/30R20 at theMICHAEL KUBLER
(ABOVE) IS ONE OF
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PERFORMANCE STUDIO
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regular GT and generates 155kg more downforce.
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