The AMG GT R’s interior has sport bucket seats in
nappa leather for lateral support, while the dashboard
and center console integrate the driver into the cockpit.
MARCH/APRIL 2018 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 127
that makes it spectacular. The V-8 engine
with 577 horsepower is paired with the
AMG speedshifter that makes driving
the coupe exhilarating.
Mercedes-AMG has packed this
production vehicle with motorsport
technology direct from the racetrack. Its
front mid-engine concept is matched with
a modified suspension, new aerodynamics
and lightweight construction that make
this car dynamic to drive. Everything
on the car is designed for aerodynamic
efficiency and optimum grip. It has active
rear-wheel steering, and there is a knob in
the center of the dash that lets you adjust
the traction control nine ways, along with
a host of other individual adjustments.
The north loop of the Nürburgring
racetrack is nicknamed the Green Hell,
hence the choice of the name for this
agile handling machine that will set any
driver’s heart a flutter. The vehicle has
a distinctive look, where form follows
function to give the car technical benefits
that are innovative in production vehicles,
but have been tested in race cars. You can
actually feel this in the steering wheel
during fast cornering under high lateral
acceleration. Added to this is a 7-speed
dual-clutch transmission that gives a
spontaneous response to fast accelerator
pedal movements. The Green Hell is a
race car that you drive on the road, or can
take to any track. It is a superb example of
the engineering that has been developed
for Mercedes-Benz racing machines
and is now ready to be given to those
who appreciate driving an automobile
that is the epitome of race technology
incorporated into a luxury cruiser that
can be driven daily. It sets a new standard,
even for Mercedes AMG. 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: The 2018 Mercedes-
Benz AMG GT R can be purchased at Lokey
Motor Co. at 19820 US. 19 N. in Clearwater,
(727) 362-6657.
The car’s wide rear end
gives its 20-inch wheels
improved traction, as
the large vent openings
improve the airflow and
dissipate heat, while
its large rear wing
increases the downforce
on the rear axle.
The exclusive color of the Mercedes AMG GT R, AMG Green Hell Magno,
was used to emphasize the car’s roots to the north loop of the racetrack in
Nürburgring, Germany, which has been nicknamed the Green Hell.