Black Series is to Mercedes-AMG what GT2 RS is to Porsche. The clip below stars the greatest Black Series and GT2 RS vehicles of them all, which aren't in production anymore. Merc has a new GT in the pipeline for the 2024 model year, and the Zuffenhausen-based automaker usually launches the GT2 RS after facelifting the Neunelfer.
Pictured in black, the flat-plane crankshaft V8 corner-carving machine isn't for the faint of heart. The only GT to feature a flat-plane crankshaft produces a whopping 730 ps and 800 Nm of torque, metric figures that convert to 720 horsepower and 590 pound-feet at full chatter.
Only 1,000 units of the 991-generation GT2 RS were assembled between 2017 and 2019 for model years 2018 through 2020, all of them with Porsche's fast-shifting PDK transmission. The Merc also rocks a dual-clutch box, which is the norm for high-performance sports cars. Heck, even the Corvette adopted DCTs for its eighth generation in favor of torque-converter automatics.
From 3.8 liters of displacement as opposed to 4.0 for the Black Series, the GT2 RS develops 700 ps and 750 Nm, which means 690 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. The Porsche's biggest advantages are its lower curb weight and rear-biased weight distribution.
As opposed to 1,540 kilograms (3,395 pounds) and 50/50, the Neunelfer boasts 1,470 kilograms (3,241 pounds) and 61 percent of said curb weight over the rear axle. In theory, it should launch better than the Black Series. And boy, does it shame the Merc from a dig! What's more, the 911 GT2 RS Weissach Package in the video below features narrower rear tires to boot.
The numbers in question are 325/30 by 21 inches compared to 335/30 by 20 inches, meaning 12.8 and 13.2 inches wide. Worse still for the Merc – which loses all three dig races – the front tires of the Neunelfer are narrower as well. 10.4 versus 11.2 inches, that is.
From zero to 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour), the best times recorded by Daniel Abt and his buddy are 3.84 seconds for the Black Series and 3.35 seconds for the six-cylinder challenger. In the standing quarter mile, that would be 11.23 and 10.78 seconds.
From a roll, however, Daniel Abt redeems the Black Series by winning against Tobias Aberle in the GT2 RS. It was a close win, though, even in terms of speed: 231 clicks for the Merc and 228 for the Porker, as in 143.5 and 141.6 miles per hour. Both cars finished the roll race in fifth gear at 7,000 revolutions per minute for the Black Series and 6,500 spinnies for the GT2 RS.
As mentioned earlier, there's a new GT in the works, one that will upset purists due to the switch to all-wheel drive, a multi-clutch automatic, 2+2 seating, and – shocker – hybrid assistance. The 992, meanwhile, still has a few years left in it. Expected in 2026 at the latest, the next GT2 RS will reportedly go mild hybrid.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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