Launched at the 2014 Paris Motor Show for the 2015 model year, the GT is the second sports car developed entirely by Mercedes-AMG after the SLS AMG. Although some saw it as a spiritual successor of the SLS AMG and the SLR McLaren before that, the Mercedes-AMG GT marked the beginning of a new era for the German carmaker. While the SLR and the SLS each battled for supremacy in the super-GT category, the Mercedes-AMG GT is aimed at lighter and smaller sports cars, with the Porsche 911 firmly in its sights. The latest full-blown AMG model also introduced a different exterior design language, a new interior styling philosophy and a brand-new engine that’ll eventually make it across the entire AMG lineup in the future. Output sits at 503 and 456 horsepower, respectively, for the GT S and GT models, with more oomph to be available once the Black Series model arrives in 2017. Meanwhile, the expansion is set to continue in 2016 with a track-exclusive GT3 model, which should also spawn a road-going variant to battle the Porsche 911 GT3.
As the name suggests, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 will replace the company’s current GT3 racer, which is based on the SLS AMG and was the first from the so-called "Customer Sports" program. Although the road-legal sports car has been discontinued for the 2015 model year, the track-prepped version will continue to race throughout 2015 with official factory support. From 2016 onward, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 will step in as the brand’s main weapon in FIA-spec championships such as the Blancpain Series and the Pirelli World Challenge.
Officially confirmed for 2016, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 is far from ready to showcase its skills. Development has barely begun and most of it will take place during 2015. That’s when intense testing will also begin, with pre-production GT3 models likely to make their first appearances on European tracks toward the end of the year.
Updated 02/12/2015: With about one month before its official debut at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes dropped the first two teaser images on its future AMG GT3 - the second customer sport car to be developed by Mercedes-AMG. Click past the jump to see the new teaser images.
Click past the jump to read more about the 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT3.
Mercedes-AMG GT3 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 12 February 2015 07:30 EST.
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