MERCEDES-AMG GT 63 PRO

Hardcore variant of V8 sports car engineered with track days in mind

- GREG KABLE

Mercedes-AMG says a good percentage of Mthose who buy a GT are itching to hit the track. They are not professional racers but, like true petrolheads, regularly enjoy pushing their car to the limit, either at general track days or the company's own AMG Driving Academy events. The new GT 63 Pro 4Matic+ has been created expressly for this type of customer.

Building on the standard GT 63 4Matic+ that was launched earlier this year, the new coupé receives a powered-up version of Affalterbach's twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine, developing an added 27bhp and 37lb ft of torque, at 603bhp and 627lb ft.

This is the same unit used by the recently launched GT 63 E Performance plug-in hybrid but without electric motor assistance, a heavy lithium ion battery and DC charging componentry.

To meet the added demands of track running, the reworked V8 receives an upgraded cooling system with two additional radiators up front.

There are also now electrically operated water pumps for each of the car's differentials.

Peak power is developed between 5500rpm and 6500rpm, but with considerable torque available between 2350rpm and 5000rpm, the GT 63 Pro offers huge flexibility and towering performance.

You can certainly feel the extra grunt: it's noticeably quicker, more responsive and generally sharper while accelerating through the gears than the regular GT 63.