SPY PICS: Merc-AMG GT R imminent

Mercedes-Benz appears to be in the final development stages of a hotter version of its AMG GT – which is available only in S form in Australia, where it's sold out until 2017 — and the hottest Mercedes-Benz ever to hit the road.

Although there has been speculation about the name of the AMG GT3-based road car, it's now certain the German car-maker's performance flagship will be dubbed the Mercedes-AMG GT R. Porsche has its hands on the GT3 name and 'Black Series' has been ruled, at least for now.

Expected to be unveiled some time this year — possibly at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in June — the hotly-anticipated GT R will be powered by AMG's latest 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, rather than the old 6.2-litre atmo V8 as in the AMG GT3 racer.

These photographs snapped recently of a lightly-disguised prototype going through its paces in the frigid climes of Northern Sweden show that, although there has been some fiddling with the details since it was last spied in testing, the monster Mercedes is close to its final production form.

Although the basics don't appear to have changed, the car you see here sports a reworked front-end with a lower-set spoiler complete with new air intakes, complimenting a rear-end with redesigned diffuser, single exhaust and air vents between the tail-lights. The complete disguise slapped over the grille suggests something stylistically adventurous might be happening there too.

Word is the GT R will benefit from a 100kg weight reduction program over the standard GT S (1495kg). Coupled with the rumoured 410kW output — up from 375kW in the GT S — this will undoubtedly guarantee shattering on-road capabilities, for which the price will significantly exceed the $295,000 sticker of the GT S.