Mercedes-AMG’s 720 HP GT Black Series is its most powerful car yet – Robb Report

A week after the images were leaked, and days after it was teased in an official YouTube video, Mercedes-AMG finally unveiled the 2021 GT Black series. And while anticipation for the final iteration of the sports car was already through the roof, it is unlikely that anyone would expect the vehicle to be so attractive.

This is because the GT’s limited edition swan song is one of the most powerful road vehicles the Mercedes star has ever owned. While it made clear last week that the high-performance variant was heavily inspired by AMG’s GT3 race cars, it’s now clear that the GT Black series would be more than home on the track.

As proof, just take a look under the hood. The GT Black series is powered by the M178 LS2 engine, a heavily modified version of the 4.0-liter V8 biturbo used in the older high-performance GT variants, the GT R and the GT R Pro. Thanks to the larger turbos and new Flat crankshaft design, the engine is AMG’s most powerful V8 of all time, according to a press release. And that’s not just hyperbole, as the engine can produce 720 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. All of this power is routed to the car’s rear wheels via a reworked seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The result is a sprinter who can zoom from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.1 seconds, from 0 to 124 mph in nine seconds, and reach a top speed of 202 mph.

Those performance times aren’t just due to the gigantic GT Black Series engine. It turns out that the car’s larger, lower grille, air intake, prominent vents, and gigantic rear spoiler aren’t just for looks. While all of these touches give the vehicle a defined look, they, along with a new diffuser, extra wide fins and fenders, also help the car handle air more efficiently and increase downforce. Also enhanced by vehicle performance is the use of lightweight carbon fiber throughout the body, chassis, and mechanical elements such as the drive shaft and transmission mount.

The impressive technical specifications and performance numbers of the GT Black series may now be clear, but the price of the limited-edition vehicle has yet to be revealed. It seems like a safe bet that it will cost well north of the GT R Pro’s $ 200,645 starting price. Deliveries are expected to start in early 2021.