2018 Mercedes-AMG GT R Hot Lap! - 2017 Best Driver's Car Contender
Pro driver Randy Pobst hot laps the 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT R around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for Motor Trend's 2017 Best Driver's Car.
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MotorTranscript
00:00 (car engine revving)
00:03 (upbeat music)
00:10 What's in a name?
00:13 In this case, the last letter tells you quite a bit.
00:16 See, the R means that this is not the dual mode,
00:19 great for road trips, luxury sports car
00:21 that we fell in love with a couple of years ago
00:23 when we named the AMG GTS our 2015 Best Driver's Car.
00:27 No, this is the hardcore, snortin', chompin' at the bit,
00:31 crazy pants version.
00:32 Power is of course up, weight is of course down,
00:35 and the suspension is super stiff.
00:38 Other changes include all-wheel steering,
00:40 ultra-sticky Corvette-spec Michelin Pilot Cup tires,
00:43 and the loudest paint job this side of Coachella.
00:46 But is it any good on the track?
00:49 Have a watch.
00:49 (car engine revving)
00:56 (brakes squealing)
00:59 Jesus, that's, stop beautifully or what, people?
01:07 (car engine revving)
01:14 (brakes squealing)
01:17 (car engine revving)
01:20 (car engine revving)
01:23 (car engine revving)
01:26 Wow, I did not expect that.
01:49 (car engine revving)
01:52 (car engine revving)
01:55 (car engine revving)
01:58 (car engine revving)
02:01 (car engine revving)
02:04 (car engine revving)
02:07 Oh yeah, this thing rocks, people!
02:33 Okay, let me ask you a question.
02:35 Have you ever driven an AMG, any AMG?
02:39 I think the first one I drove was a 1992 E55.
02:43 There's a thread that runs through all of 'em.
02:46 Same personality of muscle.
02:50 This car continues that and just raises the level.
02:54 It has a twin-turbo V8,
02:56 and the turbos are mounted in the hot V.
02:58 Really effective engine, very broad torque curve,
03:00 but still the power climbs with revs,
03:02 or it feels like it.
03:04 So it's a very satisfying experience.
03:07 The noises are just so delicious.
03:10 It's been a steady march forward for AMG
03:14 in terms of performance, but with the same personality,
03:18 which I happen to find delightful.
03:20 Brutally fast acceleration,
03:22 and that's what the GT-R delivers over the GT-S.
03:27 Even more so, it stirs more race and more muscle
03:31 into the AMG's special potion.
03:33 (car engine revving)
03:37 Yup, AMG's GT-R is pretty amazing on the track.
03:40 One minute, 33.01 seconds is hugely impressive,
03:44 and quicker than most supercars,
03:46 including the Porsche GT3 RS, the Porsche Turbo S,
03:50 the Dodge Viper TA, the Corvette Z06,
03:52 and the Audi R8 V10 Plus.
03:55 During the competition, there was discussion
03:57 about how similar the AMG and the Camaro felt,
04:00 especially how stiff the rear suspension is.
04:03 Like the Camaro, the AMG is prone
04:05 to running out of rear suspension travel.
04:07 Therefore, the GT-R is more of a track-focused car,
04:10 and less of a driver-focused one.
04:12 (car engine revving)
04:29 (dramatic music)