Future classic: Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro
By Greg MacLeman
| 4 Jan 2022
For the latest classic car news, features, buyer's guides and classifieds, sign up to the C&SC newsletter here
From the '71 300SEL 6.8 'Red Pig' to the merging of the firms in the early '90s, Mercedes-Benz and tuning arm AMG have fitted together hand in glove.
It's a relationship that has spawned some of the most exciting road cars of the past 40 years, yet the Mercedes-AMG GT represents just the second time the Affalterbach team has designed a car from scratch.
Now, the boffins have pulled out their slide-rules to create an even more focused version: the GT R Pro.
Even at rest the Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro looks mean
The standard GT is a two-seater grand-tourer-cum-sports-car designed not so much to smash lap records as to lure customers away from its Teutonic rivals, and in standard form it makes an interesting alternative to the more ubiquitous Porsche 911 and Audi R8.
In range-topping GT R Pro guise, however, it transforms into a blisteringly quick road car and a circuit weapon capable of giving even McLaren 600LTs and 911 GT3 RSs a run for their money.
With a price-tag tickling £190k you wouldn't expect anything less, but a glance at the spec sheet shows that the £40k premium over a GT R has been well spent.
The Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro's focused cabin and 3982cc twin-turbo V8
At its heart is a souped-up version of the GT's 3982cc V8, with 577bhp courtesy of twin turbochargers nestled between the banks of cylinders, mated to an incredibly slick seven-speed transaxle 'box.
There are huge carbon-ceramic brake discs at all four corners, plus coilover suspension that allows you to adjust everything from spring preload to anti-roll stiffness, damper compression and rebound.
There is a partial roll-cage, and the Pro gets a new aero package with wing louvres, a front splitter, rear diffuser and adjustable rear wing, adding 99kg of downforce at 155mph, the cumulative effect of which shaved almost 7 secs off the GT R's Nordschleife lap time.
The 0-62mph dash takes just 3.5 secs up to a near-200mph top speed
Few cars have the swagger of a powerful front-engined super coupé, and the GT R has more attitude than most.
It's beautifully proportioned from the outside, but from within the view over the long bonnet is as intimidating for the driver as it is for those you draw up behind.
With 0-60mph in just 3.5 secs it has the bite to back up the bark, yet it isn't the nightmare you might imagine on UK roads – quite the opposite.
For all its pace and presence, it rides remarkably well over even poorly maintained asphalt.
"Such a well-rounded and outrageously rapid machine that it's hard to imagine anyone wanting more"
Ever since the Miura, mid-engined supercars have held the dynamic edge over their front-engined rivals.
The GTR Pro lands a punch in the other direction, proving a genuine rival on road or track.
Any fears that the Pro might be outshone by the imminent run-out Black Series evaporated as soon as the latter's £335,000 price-tag was announced, putting the two cars in different leagues in terms of finances.
In any event, the GT R Pro turns out to be such a well-rounded and outrageously rapid machine that it's hard to imagine anyone wanting more.
Images: Max Edleston
Engine 3982cc twin-turbo V8; 577bhp @ 6250rpm; 516lb ft @ 2100-5500rpm
Transmission seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, RWD
0-62mph 3.5 secs
Top speed 197.6mph
The best supersaloon you've never heard of: Mercedes-Benz E500
Glamour models: Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Coupé vs Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow MPW
Engineered for excellence: Lancia Flaminia vs Mercedes-Benz 300SE
Greg MacLeman
Classic & Sports Car's Features Editor Greg MacLeman has been with the magazine for almost a decade and drives a restored and uprated 1974 Triumph 2500TC
Follow Greg on Twitter
Watch the final video of Stirling Moss's Mercedes 300SLR
| 7 Dec 2021
Your classic: Mercedes-Benz 280SL
| 17 Nov 2021
Universal appeal: Mercedes-Benz R107 SL at 50
| 4 Oct 2021
The best supersaloon you've never heard of
| 6 Sep 2021
Thousands of classic cars for sale!
Find your next car in our classifieds – the classic of your dreams could be just a click away...
Before the wildest cat was tamed: driving a rare Jaguar XJ220 prototype
| 28 Jan 2022
New Sir Jackie Stewart Classic launched
Classic Italian spiders in London Concours showcase
Back to the future: why the Tesla Roadster is the first true electric classic car of the modern era
All latest stories
Celebrating the landmark Alfasud
| 30 Mar 2021
Falling for a Lotus Elan M100
Original is best: the Fiat Panda at 40
| 3 Nov 2020
Why going back to the future can be so illuminating
| 27 Aug 2020
Video: The Classic & Sports Car Show 2018 highlights
| 3 Jul 2018
© 2022 Haymarket Media Group