2020 Mercedes-AMG GT R PRO Tops AMG GT 2-Door Revamp

Mercedes has given its AMG GT a revamp, with the 2020 Mercedes-AMG GT Coupes and Roadsters also joined by a fearsome 2020 AMG GT R PRO for the track. The automaker's most potent sports cars got their big reveal at the LA Auto Show 2018 today, gaining new styling, better performance, and more cabin technology.

On the outside, the updated AMG GT takes inspiration from the 2019 AMG GT 4-door coupe launched earlier this year. That includes new LED high performance headlamps and an arched light guide, the latter serving as a daytime running light, navigation light, and turn signals in one. A new multi-chamber reflector system gives a new light signature, while the LED rear lights now have dark backgrounds.

Also at the rear is a new bumper, with a redesigned diffuser insert on the GT and GT C. The AMG GT 4-door coupe donates the styling of the exhaust pipe outlet: twin round outlets on the AMG GT, and trapezoidal on the AMG GT C. The AMG GT R, meanwhile, keeps its large, central outlet, flanked with two more black tailpipes on either side of the diffuser.

The AMG GT gets a black grained sill cover on the bottom section, which can be customized with different exterior packages. Light alloy y-spoke wheels in polished titanium gray can also be fitted, while the AMG GT C gets optional 10-double-spoked forced wheels in titanium gray, or in soft black with a finely-polished rim flange.

Inside, there's a standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 10.25-inch infotainment screen. Three AMG-specific display styles – Classic, Sporty, and Supersport – are new, too, with fresh animations. The center console gets a stylized V8 design, along with the color display buttons that integrate small screens into the controls for the transmission, chassis, ESP, exhaust, spoiler, and start/stop features.

The new AMG performance steering wheel – also from the 4-door coupe – is now being added to the 2-door cars, with perforated black nappa leather side grips and a heavily contoured rim. Integrated Touch Control buttons can be used to navigate the dashboard, and all of the 2-door AMG GT cars get the AMG steering wheel buttons with integrated displays.

They'll control, among other things, the new AMG DYNAMICS system. Using sensors to track speed, steering angle, yaw rate, and other metrics, it can predict the car's behavior and adjust the ESP, power distribution at the rear axles, and the steering characteristics proactively. Four modes will be offered: Basic, Advanced, Pro, and Master, the latter only on the GT C and GT R.

In addition to the existing, updated AMG GT Coupe and Roadsters, there's also some new hardware for 2019. The new 2020 Mercedes-AMG GT R PRO will be a limited edition, road-legal but fettled for the race track. Indeed, the automaker says, the AMG GT3 and GT4 racing cars each donated some of their DNA.

So, there's new AMG coil-over suspension which can have its spring preload length adjusted mechanically, as well as its compression and the damper rebound, all from a tool-free system on the damper itself. Separate settings for high- and low-speed movements can be dialed in.

The front axle, meanwhile, gets an adjustable carbon-fiber torsion bar; the rear is hollow steel tube, also adjustable. The AMG GT R's lower rear wishbone Uniball spherical bearings are added to the upper wishbones too, adding to the GT R PRO's precision. A carbon-fiber shear panel at the rear underbody helps there, too, and makes the car stiffer.

As for the body, carbon-fiber components help keep the weight down, and AMG uses ceramic composite brakes for the GT R PRO as standard. They'll have black painted calipers with white lettering, to match the AMG Performance Twin 5-spoke forged wheels in titanium gray.

At the front, a reworked front apron gets clear-coated carbon fiber side flics, an extended front splitter with extra bracing, and new air slots in the front fenders. More carbon-fiber aero elements at the rear wheel arches help cut front-axle lift without impacting rear aero performance. AIRPANEL active air regulation in the underbody works with the standard-fit rear spoiler; the latter gets a spoiler lip and milled aluminum brackets.

AMG's Carbon Packges I and II are standard-fit, and there's a unique vehicle wrap with racing stripes across the hood, roof, hatch, and sides. It doesn't just look fast, though. The automaker took the AMG GT R PRO to the Nürburgring North Loop, where GT3 racing driver Maro Engel did a 7.04.632 minute lap, roughly 6 seconds faster than the regular AMG GT R. 0-60 mph comes in 3.5 seconds, the same as the regular GT R, with a top speed of 198 mph.

All of the 2020 AMG GT cars will be arriving in US dealerships in late 2019. Pricing will be announced closer to launch.