---
title: "Mercedes-AMG GT-R Caught Hot-Lapping the Nürburgring"
description: "AMG's souped-up super sports car seen in flagrante delicto."
date: "2016-03-30"
modified: "2016-03-30"
authors:
  - name: "Will Sabel Courtney"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/will-sabel-courtney"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/2788/mercedes-amg-gt-r-caught-hot-lapping-the-n-rburgring"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "GT-R"
  - "Mercedes-AMG"
  - "Mercedes-Benz"
  - "Nurburgring"
  - "Supercar"
---

# Mercedes-AMG GT-R Caught Hot-Lapping the Nürburgring

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/archive-images/033016-amg-gtr-test-hero.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

That sound you hear, the one splitting open the spring air in the west German forest? That's the sound of the Mercedes-AMG GT R—the next addition to the Mercedes-AMG sports car family—tearing the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife a new *arschloch* during testing. And damn, is it a joyful noise.

The video, caught by a YouTube supercar spotter known as [cvdzijden](<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPn7qqWTNONsx1YdvcFgmNw>), shows a camouflaged car that's clearly closely related to [the AMG GT-S recently driven by our own Brett Berk](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/2773/critics-notebook-mercedes-benz-amg-gt-s>). But even though the car is only visible for a few seconds each lap, it's hard to miss the differences between the current car and this new version. Up front, the mighty single-bar front grille has been replaced with a milk crate, and a pair of small air diffusers have grown out on the far ends of the front bumper. Out back, the ass end has sprouted an enormous, non-retractable spoiler, while the tailpipes seem to have migrated to the center of the bumper.

Thanks to [a recent *Top Gear* interview with AMG head honcho Tobias Moers](<https://www.topgear.com/car-news/new-york-motor-show/get-ready-hardcore-mercedes-amg-gt-r#1>), we already know quite a bit about the GT R. It'll be significantly more powerful than the GT-S; Moers even made a point to comment how "unstressed" the AMG 4.0-liter V8 was in 503 horsepower GT-S tune. Don't be surprised to see the GT R pumping out around 600 horsepower.

And it'll kick serious patootie on the track, too. “It will be faster on a racetrack than even the SLS Black Series,” Moers said. (For what it's worth, [the SLS Black Series lapped the 'Ring in 7:26](<https://nurburgringlaptimes.com/2013/12/the-mercedes-sls-amg-black-is-raring-to-become-a-ringmeister/>).)

We also know that the Mercedes-AMG GT R won't be the ultimate performance version of the AMG GT series. That honor will likely go to a Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, which [Moers coyly hinted would be coming down the line eventually](<https://www.topgear.com/car-news/new-york-motor-show/get-ready-hardcore-mercedes-amg-gt-r#3>). "The idea is to get ready and do something unexpected for maybe a Black Series version," he told *Top Gear*, reportedly boasting a sly look on his face.

We won't have to content ourselves with camouflaged test track footage of the GT R for long, thankfully. Our favorite detail from Moers's little *TG* chat? The AMG GT R will be revealed this summer.

https://youtube.com/embed/zq5EU_S9zmU

## Author
Will is the former managing editor of *RIDES Magazine* and the former online editor for *0-60 Magazine*. He has worked for *Time Out New York* and *Rolling Stone*, and was the creator of *College Cars Online*, the first automotive blog specifically targeted at college students and young professionals.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/willsabelcourtney>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/willscourtney>)