When Mercedes-AMG introduced the R incarnation of the GT earlier this year, it became obvious that the automaker has huge plans for the letter. Well, those plans are now starting to unfold, as the 2018 Mercedes-AMG C63 R Coupe has shown up at the Nurburgring.
We've already brought you the first spyshots of the track-savvy Affalterbach machine earlier this week and now we're back with a video that shows the coup in action.
Judging by the blitz Green Hell laps delivered here, Mercedes-AMG engineers have a special task on their hands, namely beating the BMW M4 GTS' 7:28 lap time.
And while we mentioned that Bosch will offer the water injection system that debuted on the Bimmer to other carmakers, we don't expect this Benz to be one of them.
However, the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 under the hood could lose the wet sump lubrication of the "standard" C63 models and go for the GT's dry sump, an asset that would allow it to run around the track all day without any lubrication issues.
As for the numbers delivered by the engine when motivating the velocity beast we have here, the expected 550 hp and 553 lb-ft (750 Nm) should be enough to leave the M Division animal behind.
You should also factor in the serious diet the two-door is going through. For now, we're talking about a pre-production model, so bits and pieces such as the glued-on front splitter or the rear wing will be modified en route to the showroom.
Even so, we expect a number of carbon fiber elements that will have a pleasing effect on the coupe's scale footprint. Then there's the aerodynamic area, where the downforce boost will be massive.
Since we mentioned Nurburgring lap times, we'll remind you that Mercedes-AMG still hasn't announced the Nordschleife performance of the GT R, so the supercar should make its sub-7:20 announcement (the time of the 911 GT3 RS) soon.
In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist. Full profile
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