McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

Mercedes-Benz News

Mercedes-Benz news fromduPont REGISTRY News, updated daily, covering the S-Class, the Maybach range, the AMG models, the G-Class and the electric line-up. Our reporting takes in reveals, first drives, bespoke builds and the auction results that set collector values. Mercedes-Benz competes across more segments than almost any rival, so the news here runs unusually wide. Our marketplace supplies the part most publications leave out entirely. A great many of these cars are listed for sale on duPont REGISTRY, which puts a review and a real asking price side by side. For Mercedes-Benz news today, and the luxury car market news around it, start here.

By Tyler Rampersaud – December 08, 2022

The New Mercedes-AMG GT2 Expands AMG's Racing Portfolio

Affalterbach’s newest racer seeks track domination. Known and celebrated for its racing and performance exploits, Mercedes-AMG has already introduced the Mercedes-AMG GT3 and Mercedes-AMG GT4, successful race cars based on the iconic Mercedes-AMG GT performance car. Now, the racing portfolio of Affalterbach’s performance specialists expands, with the introduction of the new Mercedes-AMG GT2, which will be introduced in time for the 2023 season. The car is the most powerful homologated race car in AMG’s 12-year customer racing program, and with excellent, power, aerodynamics, and weight reduction, it’s raring to take on tracks around the world. MUST READ: The New Hybrid 2024 Mercedes-AMG S 63 E PERFORMANCE Is The Most Powerful S-Class Ever The car features a version of AMG’s 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged engine that’s brought to 707 horsepower, making it the most powerful iteration of the engine in a homologated race car from AMG. Carbon fiber throughout the body, and even included in the powertrain helps reduce weight, and carefully-engineered aerodynamic elements throughout the car help air go exactly where it needs to. The prominent rear wing is mounted with a swan neck configuration, known for its effectiveness in delivering downforce and contributing to race-ready dynamics. With the new race car coming in time for the 2023 GT racing season, customer racing teams will receive cars that have been fully developed, with the development and testing taking place soon at the tracks where the GT2 racing season will take place. View All Mercedes-Benz For Sale Source: Mercedes-Benz

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 16, 2022

Roger Federer x Mercedes-Benz Auction A Tennis Ball-Color...

Mercedes-Benz serves a special new one-off. Mercedes-Benz has partnered with famed tennis player Roger Federer on a new initiative called “Neon Legacy,” and at the center of it all is a very bold one-off car that was first shown at the Laver Cup in London from September 23 to 25. The car, a Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E PERFORMANCE, is painted in the bright neon yellow color of the felt on a tennis ball, honoring Federer’s incredible tennis-playing career, and also decorated with his personal signet. Now, the car will be auctioned on November 26 at RM Sotheby’s Munich Auction, after which the Neon Legacy initiative will return serve by putting the proceeds to a great cause. MUST READ: 2022 Mercedes-Benz S580 4MATIC Review: Punching Way Above Its Class All of the auction proceeds will be going towards the refurbishment of a public tennis court in London, so that the city’s tennis enthusiasts, young and old, will be able to enjoy a high-quality court, renovated and refurbished in collaboration with a Berlin-based graffiti artist duo called “Low Bros.” This partnership is a continuation of a long-standing relationship between Federer and Mercedes-Benz, and both promise that this is only the beginning. There is more planned for the future, and a documentary covering the renovation of the tennis court will be out as soon as early next year. At the intersection of sports and sports cars, Mercedes-Benz and Roger Federer have created a project that is truly special. View All Mercedes-AMG GT 63s For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mercedes-Benz (@mercedesbenz) Source: Mercedes-Benz

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 10, 2022

The Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series And New Mercedes-AMG ONE...

Mercedes-AMG puts its greatest performance heroes to the test… against each other. The pinnacle of the Mercedes-AMG lineup is represented by two legendary cars, the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, and the Mercedes-AMG ONE, two cars that are absolutely incredible for their innovation and engineering with no corners cut when it comes to performance. In one of the most epic displays of performance imaginable for both of these cars, Mercedes-AMG pitted them against each other, with AMG Performance driver Nico Bastian at the wheel of the ONE, and five-time DTM champion Bernd Schneider at the wheel of the GT Black Series. With a kilometer (0.62 miles) ahead of them, the two cars duked it out. MUST READ: The Best Mercedes’ You Can Buy Today Unsurprisingly, the Mercedes-AMG ONE came out ahead, but the GT Black Series isn’t to be discounted for its performance, approaching speeds of 170 mph as it traveled the short distance. The Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series is an incredible car, but with the Formula-1 derived powertrain and engineering throughout the Mercedes-AMG ONE, a new era of hypercar performance is shown. With its straight-line performance proven, all that’s left to see is what the Mercedes-AMG ONE is capable of on the track. View All Mercedes-AMG GTs For Sale Source: YouTube/Mercedes-AMG

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 23, 2022

The New Mercedes-AMG GT3 Is A 1-of-5 Race Car That Celebr...

AMG’s 55th anniversary gives way to a special track-only creation. AMG’s foundation in 1967 was all about bringing Mercedes-Benz cars to the track to dominate the racing world and realize their full racing potential. The tuning house’s 55th anniversary remembers its racetrack roots and returns to them with an incredibly special new car that is bound to make founders Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher very proud. It’s the new Mercedes-AMG GT3 and it’s an incredibly limited, exclusive, and powerful EDITION 55 car that celebrates AMG’s history and shows off its racing prowess. MUST READ: Rise Of An Icon: AMG's Rise In Power The car isn’t FIA homologated, and that means it lacks restrictions when it comes to power. As a result, the optimized 6.3-liter V8 engine in the car comes up with 650 horsepower, which is an increase of 100 over the FIA-homologated version. With only 5 of these incredible EDITION 55 track cars being made, throughout the interior, commemorative embroidery, plaques, and other signage indicate that the car is “EDITION 55 - 1 OF 5.” With MANUFAKTUR Alpine Grey with red accents on the exterior along with AMG and EDITION 55 graphics, and matte Anthracite metallic finish and exposed carbon fiber throughout the interior, beauty isn’t lost in the new Mercedes-AMG GT3 even with its incredible performance. Along with the car will come an exclusive timepiece from Mercedes-AMG’s partner IWC Schaffhausen. Inside the limited EDITION 55 box that comes with each car is a Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “AMG.” This year is special for AMG, but it’s even more special for AMG fans, enthusiasts, and collectors. View All Mercedes-AMG GTs For Sale Source: Mercedes-Benz

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 23, 2022

The New Mercedes-AMG GT Track Series Is The Most Serious ...

You’ve heard of Black Series… Mercedes-AMG continues to celebrate its 55th anniversary with surprising announcement after surprising announcement. Plenty of AMG fans know and love Black Series, the collection of AMG cars that dial the dedication to performance up to the max, with extreme weight reduction, upgraded performance, and revised aerodynamics. But just when we thought the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series was the max, Affalterbach had more in store. MUST READ: Mercedes-AMG Celebrates 55 Years With the New “Edition 55” G 63 The AMG GT Track Series goes even further than the Black Series, using its Black Series counterpart as a base car. Power comes up to 734 horsepower thanks to new injectors and other upgrades, and the gearbox has been swapped out for a Hewland 6-speed racing gearbox. Aerodynamics have also improved, with increased downforce, new cooling ducts, and a generally optimized airflow. On the inside, the car lacks just about any creature comforts, being completely dedicated to track domination. Only 55 of these cars will be made, with each costing €369,000 plus VAT. If you own one, there will already be few cars on the track that can rival you, and only 54 others in the world are guaranteed to have a chance. Source: Mercedes-Benz

By Jordan Aquistapace – March 18, 2022

Check The Spec: F1-Inspired 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Bla...

Feel apart of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team with this AMG GT Black Series. The AMG GT Black Series stands out as the pinnacle supercar for Mercedes-Benz, embodying design and performance aspects from the generations that came before it. As the track-inspired beast that holds the glory of being a legal road production model, the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Black Series focuses on delivering a one-of-a-kind Formula 1-inspired feel to the community of dedicated owners, collectors, and enthusiasts. The supercar specialists at HGreg Lux are proud to present this incredible 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Black Series as part of their ever-growing inventory of exclusive exotic vehicles in Pompano Beach, Florida. The exterior features a motorsport livery that mimics the championship-winning Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team race car design. The iconic colors of black, silver, and pearl Petronas green shift through the elongated body of the German supercar, which showcases a transitioning star pattern that fades off from back to front. The lightweight matte black 19/20-inch multi-spoke sport wheels also incorporate a touch of green with a pinstripe that runs around the outside of each wheel face. MUST-READ: Check The Spec: Tailor Made Inspirazioni Ferrari SF90 Stradale The interior design focuses on providing a driver-oriented feel through a sleek black leather and Alcantara layout that perfectly complements the gloss black trim accents. Adding to its track-ready design, the interior configuration features a set of sport-style carbon bucket seats with green racing stripes that travel down the center inserts. The Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Black Series delivers over 730-horsepower from its hand-built AMG 4.0-Liter Twin-Turbocharged V8, achieving an incredible top speed of 202mph. Managed by a responsive 7-Speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, the new AMG GT Black Series launches from 0-60mph in just 3.2-seconds. This 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Black Series from HGreg Lux is currently available on duPont REGISTRY for $848,900. Click on the link below to view the vehicle listing for more information. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more upcoming Check The Spec specials. Sell My Mercedes Black Series: Get a Cash Offer View Vehicle Listing

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 15, 2022

Mercedes-AMG GT 63 and GT 63 S 4-Door Coupes Are Facelift...

Mercedes-AMG isn’t a brand known to rest on its laurels, and it won’t start now. The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 and GT 63 S 4-Door Coupes are known for combining four-door practicality with the excellent performance of the iconic AMG GT. With as little as a 3.1-second 0-60 time, and as much as a 195 mph top speed thanks to a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine and 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive, two extra doors do absolutely nothing to hinder the amazing performance of the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe. However, even despite this, Mercedes-AMG decided that the time has come to give the model a refresh. With more customizable options, an improved suspension, and design updates, the AMG GT 63 and GT 63 S 4-Door Coupes are as fresh as they are fast. MUST READ: The Best Mercedes’ You Can Buy Today The updates start at the front fascia, which was first featured on the E Performance model of the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe, and is now featured on all 8-cylinder models of the car. And under the sheet metal, the AMG RIDE CONTROL+ air suspension receives two pressure limiting valves, increasing both driving comfort and driving dynamics, with damping force being adjusted by just a few milliseconds. “Manufaktur” being the designation for models that are created to the highest available degree of customization, individuality, and personalization, and to reflect that, the updated AMG GT 4-Door 8-cylinder models receive three new Manufaktur paint colors, as well as three new interior choices of diamond-quilted Nappa leather, including a two-tone AMG Performance steering wheel and exclusive AMG floor mats. With a facelift and as much as 630 horsepower, the AMG GT 63 and 63 S 4-Door Coupe are raring to go as soon as later this year. Source: Mercedes-Benz

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 08, 2022

Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series and AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+ Are ...

Mercedes-Benz shows off its potential for performance with more than just the cars that are racing. The Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix will be the venue at which Mercedes-Benz will reveal the new official F1 Safety and Medical cars that will be used to ensure smooth racing operations on the track throughout the season. The Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series will serve as the safety car, while the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+ Four-Door Coupé will serve as the official medical car. MUST READ: Mercedes-AMG Petronas Debuts The Mercedes-AMG F1 W13 E Performance For The 2022 Season The safety car, being the most powerful variant of the AMG GT available, makes no changes to the original car, save for the equipment the FIA requires for it to be on the track, like signal lighting, which is integrated into the windshield and spoiler, a roll cage, six-point harnesses, and custom monitors for a birds-eye view of the track. Ironically, safety cars have to be fast, and be able to get around the track at a pace not too much slower than the racing cars, in order to prevent the tires and brakes from cooling to the point where the engine overheats. The medical car, derived from the Four-Door Coupé version of the AMG GT, is the fastest and most powerful medical car in F1 history, with 639 horsepower coming from its twin-turbo V8, with 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive helping it get around the track more with superior efficiency. It features a carbon-fiber roof scoop that holds the required light bar. It has been aerodynamically optimized so that safety and performance make no compromise. On March 18-20, the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series safety car, and Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+ medical car will debut in Bahrain as Official F1 safety and medical cars. Source: Mercedes-Benz

By Jordan Aquistapace – January 05, 2022

Check Out This 2015 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT Final Editio...

A chance to own a piece of Mercedes-Benz AMG history. In the world of Mercedes-Benz, the AMG performance division operates under the idea of providing a track-like driving experience through its series of high-horsepower road cars. One of the most popular chassis in the German automotive manufacturer’s history is the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT, a modern-day supercar built to pay homage to the 1950s 300 SL. This 2015 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT sets itself apart from others produced, as it’s a special final edition specification built by the in-house AMG Team. The exterior presents itself in a unique Imola Grey paint scheme with 19”/20” matte black cross-spoke wheels to tie together its aggressive styling. Keeping the build performance-driven, the SLS AMG GT also comes fit with exterior carbon fiber components and a special 1-of-1 custom back fuel cap from the factory. The powertrain responsible for delivering 583-horsepower to the rear wheels is a front-mid AMG naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 engine. The power is meticulously managed through its 7-speed AMG Speedshift dual-clutch transmission, which launches the SLS AMG GT from 0-60 miles per hour in just 3.9-seconds. Opening the classic gullwing style doors unveils a Designo black exclusive leather interior layout with diamond stitching. The premium SLS AMG GT interior includes additional features like an Alcantara sport steering wheel, Bang & Olufsen Beosound AMG sound system, Thermotronic Climate Control, and much more. This 2015 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT Final Edition is only 1 of 350 produced and is available on duPont REGISTRY with 6,081-miles for $439,900.

By Edward Jones – June 13, 2021

2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series To Be Offered at RM Sot...

Presented by RM Sotheby's - The 2015 launch of the Mercedes-AMG GT continued the brand’s momentum for continued sales and development which was initially set into motion by the preceding SLS AMG model introduced in 2011. In 2016, Mercedes-AMG released GT3 and GT4 Touring Car versions to privateer racing teams. Now, five years of racing developments have birthed the ultimate road-going example of the model, the brand-new Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series. The drama of the GT Black Series is immediately apparent. The design’s gaping front fascia has been crimped from the GT3, channeling fresh air directly to the radiators via an isolated intake channel. An adjustable, carbon fiber front splitter can deploy from the bumper in moments, thereby maximizing the on-track effectiveness of the Venturi phenomenon for massive improvements in downforce. The Black Series’ bonnet is composed of carbon fiber, as are the roof and tailgate; the cabin glass is also of a thinner specification than the standard GT. The car’s widened fenders feature GT3-inspired gills and rear slats that vent pressurized air channeled by the car’s suite of underbody curtains, diffusers, and sealed panel joints. The wheel wells feature a network of cooling ducts for the massive carbon-ceramic brakes which have been cleverly integrated into the side skirts and rear diffuser. Being a road car, the GT Black Series could not make use of the GT3’s active rear wing. Instead, the Black Series’ exclusive rear wing design has retained the same surface area of the GT3 design but distributed it over an ingenious two-tier structure that is cantilevered over the rear tailgate. A retuned set of adjustable coilovers and carbon fiber chassis reinforcements throughout, all provide superior rigidity across the coupe’s 104-inch wheelbase. The Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series is the ultimate GT not simply because of its repertoire of new features harvested from the GT3 Touring Car. At its heart lies the new ‘M178 LS2’ engine which has been exclusively developed for use in the GT Black Series. This new powerplant features a reconfigured 4.0-liter displacement constructed around a flat pane crankshaft; AMG literature states that the new firing order greatly improves thermal dynamics and throttle response. The pair of twin-scroll turbochargers have also been enlarged over previous iterations of the M178 blueprint; they operate at a ‘normal’ boost setting of 25 PSI. All told, the GT Black Series’ exclusive new powerplant is factory-rated at an astounding 730 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. Power is routed to the rear wheels via a seven-speed AMG Speedshift DCT with gear ratios optimized for rapid acceleration over top speed. Zero to 60 mph takes just three seconds, with 125 mph arriving just six seconds later en route to a reported top speed over 200 mph. All told, the GT Black Series’ exclusive new powerplant is factory-rated at an astounding 730 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. Power is routed to the rear wheels via a seven-speed AMG Speedshift DCT with gear ratios optimized for rapid acceleration over top speed. Zero to 60 mph takes just three seconds, with 125 mph arriving just six seconds later en route to a reported top speed over 200 mph. This vehicle will be offered in RM Sotheby’s new Milan Sale, taking place 15 June at Palazzo Serbelloni in Italy. The sale will be livestreamed and remote bidding options are available. View Online Listing

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