LA MOTOR SHOW: Mercedes-AMG GT R PRO slammed down

After four years on sale, the Mercedes-AMG GT has been given a significant shot in the arm with the reveal of range-wide updates and the addition of a new track-focussed flagship, the Mercedes-AMG GT R PRO, at the Los Angeles motor show overnight.

While the upgraded 2020 Mercedes-AMG line-up has been confirmed for Australian release in the second half of next year, the limited-edition GT R PRO remains unconfirmed for our market.

The hottest AMG GT is claimed to adapt technologies from AMG's GT3 and GT4 race cars for the road, taking the GT R PRO closer to motorsport than any other Mercedes-AMG production model, says company boss Tobias Moers.

Mercedes-AMG GT R PRO upgrades include the ability for drivers to adjust suspension spring preload and damping compression and rebound, plus an adjustable front stabiliser bar, spherical bearings for the rear upper wishbones and retuned dynamic mounts for the engine and transmission.

Continuing the chassis upgrades are a carbon-fibre shear panel to make the rear-end more rigid, ceramic composite brakes and light-weight forged alloy wheels.

Cosmetic tweaks extend to an extended front splitter supported by metal braces and new flics, vents above the front wheel-arches and a new rear lip spoiler, fender fins, side mirrors and side-sill trim strips.

As part of the standard Carbon Packages I and II, all of these elements are clear-coated carbon-fibre and there’s the no-cost option of racing stripes for the bonnet, roof and rear hatch -- light green for the selenite gray magno paint finish and dark gray matte for all other colours.

There are no changes to the 430kW/700Nm twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 from the Mercedes-AMG GT R, and the same goes for the rest of the 2020 GT Coupe and Roadster range, including the entry-level 350kW/630Nm GT and the 410kW/680Nm GTC.

Hence, the official 0-100km/h acceleration claims remain unchanged for the GT (3.9 seconds), GTC (3.6sec) and both the GT R and GT R PRO (3.3sec).

However, highlighting its track focus, Mercedes-AMG claims its brand ambassador and AMG GT3 racer Maro Engel “considerably bettered” the standard GT R’s Nurburgring lap record with a time of 7:04.632 minutes.

Lesser AMG GT models score a range of running changes as standard, including 12.3-inch digital instruments with ‘Supersport’ display, a new AMG Performance steering wheel from the GT 4-Door (which also provides revised centre console buttons), revised LED headlight graphics, new wheel designs and a new rear bumper.

All 2020 Mercedes-AMGs will also come with the Benz hot-tuner’s latest AMG DYNAMICS stability control system comprising a host of new drive modes, plus the AMG Track Pace circuit data-logging system.