Epic new Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series debuts

The covers have officially come off the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, and the headline act is the German performance brand’s most powerful production V8 ever.

What’s more, the new Mercedes-AMG GT range-topper, which arrives in Australia in early 2021, will bring an all-new body with active aerodynamics – including an adjustable front splitter that looks like it’s lifted directly from the GT3 racer and a massive rear wing that’s higher than the roof.

Together, these could make the new Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series faster than its arch-rival – the Porsche 911 GT2 RS – around the Nurburgring Nordschleife, where it was developed.

The undoubted drawcard of the new AMG flagship, at least until the delayed Mercedes-AMG ONE hypercar arrives, is a completely reworked version of Affalterbach’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8.

Fitted with a flat-plane crank and revised firing order (and a new M178 LS2 engine code), the dry-sump V8 now produces 537kW of power over 6700-6900rpm and 800Nm of torque over 2000-6000rpm – up 107kW/100Nm up on even the wild Mercedes-AMG GT R (430kW/700Nm).

There are also new camshafts and exhaust manifolds, larger intercoolers and revised twin-scroll turbochargers that deliver more air (1100 versus 900kg/h for the GT R) and improved throttle response compared to the GT R, says AMG. Engine speed is limited to 7200rpm.

All that urge is sent to the rear wheels via a 40 per cent lighter (13.9kg) carbon-fibre (not aluminium) torque tube and an AMG SPEEDSHIFT seven-speed dual-clutch rear transaxle, in which AMG says it has also extended the limits governing shift performance, making the transmission “more suitable for race tracks”.

The result? Mercedes-AMG says the GT Black Series is good for a 0-100km/h sprint in 3.2 seconds, 200km/h in less than nine seconds and a top speed of 325km/h. Fuel consumption, if you care, is listed at 12.8L/100km.

In terms of aero, AMG’s sixth Black Series model since 2006 shares no body panels with the GT R and borrows a number of design cues from AMG’s GT3 and GT4 racers, including a carbon-fibre bonnet with large exhaust air outlets, carbon bootlid, thinner front and rear glass and a manually-adjustable carbon-fibre front splitter with two positions: Street and Race.

At the rear, the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series sports a new apron a huge diffuser and carbon-fibre aerofoil blades that can also be adjusted to suit track conditions.

AMG says the coupe’s underbody is almost fully panelled, featuring specially designed longitudinal fins for both aerodynamic and heat dissipation purposes.

Overall, the German manufacturer says the Black Series can generate well over 400kg of downforce at 250km/h.

At each corner, the GT Black gets unique lightweight forged alloy wheels (10x19-inch front, 12x20-inch rear), shod with Pilot Sport Cup 2 R MO tyres (285/35 front, 335/30 rear) developed specifically for the Black Series in collaboration with Michelin and available in a soft or hard compound.

These are complimented by forged aluminium double-wishbone suspension, steering knuckles and hub carriers, coil-over adaptive dampers, a dual adjustable carbon-fibre front torsion bar, manually-adjustable front/rear wheel camber and anti-roll bars, and carbon-ceramic brake rotors with black-painted brake callipers and special brake pads.

As well as a number of drive modes (Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus), drivers can fine-tune the AMG’s traction control support via a dial mounted in the centre of the dash that offers nine settings.

Inside the cabin, the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series comes with a mix of Nappa leather and DINAMICA microfibre in black, with contrasting orange stitching – the exclusive contrasting colour for the model. The stitching can also be optioned in grey.

Carbon-fibre bucket seats are said to combine low weight with optimum lateral support, while conventional interior door-handles have been replaced with weight-saving loop pull handles.

Other standard features include Daimler’s latest 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 10.25-inch central touch-screen with MBUX infotainment, plus a flat-bottom AMG steering wheel with aluminium shift paddles and touch-sensitive controls.

An AMG Track Package can be optioned, adding race-ready items including a roll cage, 2kg fire extinguisher and four-point harness for both driver and passenger.