Launched at the 2014 Paris Motor Show->ke227 for the 2015 model year, the GT is the second sports car->ke506 developed entirely by Mercedes-->ke187AMG, 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->ke4853 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->ke282 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. 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 version to battle the Porsche 911 GT3.

As the name suggests, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 replaces 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.

Updated 03/03/2015: The new Mercedes-AMG GT3 made its world debut at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show and will be offered to customer teams in early 2016.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT3.

2016 Mercedes-AMG GT3

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT3
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Update History

Updated 02/27/2015: Mercedes-AMG dropped the official details on its new racing car: the GT3. Continue reading to learn that the new version brings new over the old SLS AMG GT3.

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.

Updated 02/20/2015: Mercedes dropped a new teaser image for the upcoming AMG GT3, this time revealing the front of the new race car. Check it out after the jump.

Updated 01/22/2015: We created a very cool rendering for the future Mercedes-AMG GT that might help you make an idea on how the car could look like when it will be unveiled 2016. Details after the jump.

Teaser Images

Rendering

In developing our rendering we took inspiration from the SLS AMG GT3 and other FIA-GT3 racing cars. We made the body sit lower to the ground and then added a huge rear wing, bigger racing slicks, redesigned side vents and intakes, a completely redesigned hood with larger intakes and vents, a tow hook and a pair of air flow deflectors before each front wheel.

Exterior

Visually, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 is everything I expected it to be: a souped-up AMG GT packed with all the goodies necessary to turn a sexy road car into a full-fledged track-burner. Significantly wider than its road-going counterpart, the GT3 features comprehensive aerodynamics that include wider fenders, redesigned front bumper and hood, new side skirts, a menacing rear diffuser, and the mandatory massive rear wing.

Up front, only the headlamps, the Mercedes-Benz badge and the overall shape of the hood have been retained from the road car. The front grille has been enlarged, reshaped, and fitted with vertical slats, while the wide inlet below now sports a different mesh and a carbon-fiber surround. The splitter stretches from one side of the bumper to the other, complemented by two pairs of upswept canards. The massive vent sculpted into the hood and the gills adorning the muscular wheel arches round off the GT3's intimidating appearance. Definitely an image no driver would be comfortable with in his rearview mirror.

The rear fascia is equally menacing, mainly thanks to its huge carbon-fiber wing and wide diffuser. The taillights appear to be stock, but not the apron or the exhaust outlets, which have been repositioned under the doors. Speaking of which, the GT3's doors are narrower than the road car's, primarily to make way for the larger side skirts that incorporate both the exhaust pipes and the cooling vents for the rear brakes. The profile also showcases new side mirrors and lightweight rims wrapped in race-spec tires.

Naturally, most of the GT3's body panels are made from carbon fiber, making the GT3 significantly lighter than the GT. The lightweight yet high-strength panels are finished in a matte Selenite Grey Magno paint from the Designo palette, with yellow stripes running across the hood, roof, trunk lid and doors. The same bright yellow was used on the front canards, side mirrors, rear wing, and the tires for added contrast. Of course, this livery is only for the official presentation, with each team to dress their GT3s accordingly.

Interior

The interior’s overall layout is the same as its road-going counterpart, including the swooping dashboard. The switchgear and information displays, on the other hand, have been drastically updated for better driver engagement. Gone is the standard gauge cluster, replaced with the color race display Mercedes calls the Digital Display Unit. It provides vital stats like speed, engine rpm, operating temperatures, lap times, current gear selection, and an up-shift indicator. The steering wheel is also a race-spec, getting the function-key wheel with paddle shifters and controls all within the driver’s hands. Functions include the buttons for the two-way radio, headlamp flasher, and drink function.

Mercedes-AMG has put a lot of attention into safety. The roll cage is constructed of high-strength steel that’s bolted to the car’s aluminum spaceframe. Attached to that is the GT3’s single, hard-shell, carbon fiber bucket seat. Locked in its position, the seat is mounted in the safest location within the roll cage while the steering wheel and pedals move fore and aft to accommodate different drivers. The seat incorporates the Head and Neck Support, or HANS, restraint system and a six-point harness with reinforced anchor points. A driver escape hatch is built into the roof.

Drivetrain

At the heart of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 is the 6.3-liter V-8 also found in the old SLS AMG GT3. Mercedes says the naturally aspirated mill was chosen for its “user-friendly technology, excellent reliability, long maintenance intervals, and low running costs.” It does come as a surprise the new 4.0-liter biturbo V-8 isn’t used, but it likely boils down to that engine’s unproven record in endurance racing.

The high-revving 6.3 engine utilizes a dry sump oil system to keep parts lubricated during hard cornering and to allow the engine to sit low within the chassis.

Unfortunately, Mercedes is still withholding the engine’s power output. It’s likely Mercedes is still waiting on FIA to complete its inspections before announcing anything official. Each car in the series must conform to a specific power-to-weight ratio, so the GT3’s final horsepower output will depend on its weight.

If history tells us anything, the engine will crank out slightly less than 500 horsepower. That’s considering the old SLS AMG made 500 horses for its 2,910-pound curb weight. The new Mercedes-AMG GT3 should weight a little less that SLS, so horsepower must fall as well.

The engine is mated to a six-speed transaxle mounted between the rear tires for better weight balance. A torsionally rigid torque tube connects the engine and transmission with the driveshaft spinning inside. Both are made from carbon fiber for reduced weight and added structural strength.

Suspension and Brakes

The GT3 uses the same suspension components as its street-going brethren. The double-wishbone A-arms and other parts are made almost exclusively from aluminum. Adjustable shocks allow race teams to dial in precise tuning for specific racetracks, including the springs and dampers, suspension height, track, and camber.

The Mercedes-AMG GT3 uses a direct-ratio rack-and-pinion steering system that is servo-assisted. This gives the driver precise control and excellent feel.

Bringing everything to a stop are racing brakes. Designed to be resistant to fade, the brakes incorporated composite construction and feature pads that are easily replaced during an endurance race. Adjustable ABS keeps tires from locking up and the system from being overactive. What’s more, the GT3 features a pneumatic jacking system with plungers at each corner. This allows all four tires to come off the ground at once, making pit stops extremely efficient.

Competitors

McLaren 650S GT3

It's hard to believe the Mercedes-AMG GT could compete against the more powerful and lighter McLaren 650S, but this is where FIA's regulations for the GT3 class come in. With relative limits set for horsepower and weight, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 can be as quick as McLaren's new sports car. Developed as a replacement for the iconic 12C GT3, the GT3 racer is based on the street-legal 650S and set to hit the tracks in 2015, a year earlier than the AMG GT3.

Just like the 12C GT3, the 650S GT3 uses the company's award-winning, twin-turbo, 3.8-liter, V-8 engine found in its road-legal sibling. The mill has been detuned to crank out 493 horsepower, which travel to the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential transmission. The exterior of the 650S GT3 features an aggressive and aerodynamic body kit, while the interior is updated to meet the FIA’s latest safety requirements.

Audi R8 LMS Ultra

The R8 LMS Ultra is the most popular choice among GT3 competitors and the car to beat in both Europe and the U.S. Based on the road-going R8, the LMS Ultra is the lightest and most powerful version of the German supercar. It is also the quickest of the pack, thanks to its lightweight body shell and extreme aerodynamics. A race-spec version of Audi's 5.2-liter, V-10 engine motivates the LMS Ultra, with 562 horsepower routed to the rear wheels through a six-speed, sequential gearbox.

A host of race-bred systems and electronics also enable the LMS Ultra to tackle twisty tracks at high speeds and win competitions such as the 2014 Blancpain Sprint Series. No fewer than 12 teams have used the R8 LMS Ultra throughout the 2014 Blancpain Endurance and Sprint seasons.

Lamborghini Huracan GT3

Just like the McLaren 650S GT3, the Huracan is also a newcomer to the series, likely to join both the Blancpain Series as well as the Pirelli World Challenge. Very little is known about the Huracan GT3 as of November 2014, but expect this race-bred Lambo to resemble the Huracan Super Trofeo. An aggressive front bumper with a large splitter, new side skirts, a large rear diffuser, and a massive rear wing will set it apart from its regular sibling.

Inside, the Huracan will ditch its familiar stock interior for a host of racing equipment with emphasis on FIA's GT3 safety regulations. The same 5.2-liter, V-10 engine will roar under its hood, but with less horsepower at its disposal, as per FIA requirements. This shouldn't make it less quick though, as the GT3 will be lighter and more aerodynamic than the standard Huracan.

Mercedes SLS AMG Racing History

The GT3-spec race car of the SLS AMG was launched in 2010 and made its debut in the VLN Nurburgring Endurance Championship. It won its first race in October 2011 and in 2012 it triumphed at the 24 Hours of Dubai. The sports car was also entered in the Australian GT Championship by Erebus Racing, winning the prestigious Bathurst 12-Hour race. The SLS AMG GT3 reached yet another milestone in 2013, when it won the 24 Hours of Spa, bringing Mercedes its first victory in the race since 1964.

In 2014, the SLS AMG competed in the Blancpain Endurance Series, the Blancpain Sprint Series, and the SCCA Pirelli World Challenge. The coupe is set to continue throughout 2015 and beyond, with Mercedes-AMG to supply spare parts and service support to any team that uses the SLS.

GT3 racing aside, the SLS AMG was also used as a Formula One official Safety Car for five consecutive seasons between 2010 and 2014. Also, the all-electric SLS AMG E-CELL was raced in the Paul Pietsch Classic and the Silvretta EV race in 2011.

Conclusion

Ever since Mercedes-AMG committed to its Customer Sports program in late 2010, the SLS AMG GT3 has managed to achieve almost 200 victories, some of them being hardcore endurance races, with 2014 alone bringing six titles in different championships. The car will keep getting factory support as it prepares to hand over the reign to the upcoming Mercedes-AMG GT3 racer, which obviously has some pretty big shoes to fill. Taking into account that the GT and GT S use most of the underpinnings of the SLS AMG anyway, there shouldn't be any reliability problems. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 should be ready for its first victory in 2016, and in some championships it may be even accompanied by old SLS AMG GT3 models, so it will be interesting to see which one will be the better race car. For now, it's quite obvious that the Mercedes-AMG GT3 wins the battle in the looks department.