- A new model joins the lineup.
- Revised looks.
- New track-focused technology.
Time flies when you’re driving a fabulous sports car. The 2020 Mercedes-AMG GT heralds a revamp after four years as a fascinating alternative to the iconic Porsche 911 and the stylish Audi R8. This is a particularly special machine because it’s not a tuned-up version of an existing Mercedes-Benz vehicle, but a car designed, developed and built specifically by the company’s AMG division. This latest version just debuted at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show.
What’s new for 2020?
There are some subtle exterior revisions. These include new LED headlights and taillights, a redesigned rear diffuser for the regular and GT C cars, a quartet of circular exhaust tailpipes for the straight GT and four rectangular pipes for the GT C (replacing double trapezoidal pipes on both cars).
A new center console features capacitive buttons (just touch rather than press). A 10.3-in infotainment display joins a 12.3-in configurable digital driver information display as standard equipment. And a new flat-bottomed steering wheel becomes not just the means to change direction, but also a control hub for accessing and adjusting many of the car’s systems — in a similar layout to the ones found on a Formula One racing car’s steering wheel (Mercedes-AMG won the F1 constructor’s championship for the fifth time this year).
Some of the settings that can be adjusted through the steering wheel include the new AMG Dynamics system, which recalibrates the traction and stability control systems for serious track work. The modes are Basic, Advanced, Pro and Master. They’re intended to aid even the most experienced and talented drivers rather than merely save the less able from catastrophe.
The 2020 Mercedes-AMG GT range also offers fresh color schemes inside and out, plus different designs of alloy wheels. The changes don’t end there, though.
A brand-new model joins the lineup, the limited-edition 2020 Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro. It will only be built for the 2020 model year and the number allocated for the U.S. hasn’t been set yet. The company says "no other current production Mercedes-AMG is as close to motor racing" as this model. It sits at the top of the range’s power mountain with 577 horsepower (the other two models, the GT and GT C, have 469 hp and 550 hp respectively, no changes here for 2020) and the highest top speed of 198 miles per hour.
It isn’t just the muscle that makes the GT R Pro remarkable. It comes with carbon fiber aerodynamic additions, a carbon fiber roof, standard ceramic composite brakes and updated suspension components.
When is it available and how much does it cost?
We’re looking at an on-sale date of summer 2019 for the "normal" 2020 Mercedes-AMG GT, which comes as a coupe or a convertible (roadster). The 2020 GT R Pro coupe arrives later in 2019. Pricing is still to be announced, but the current range starts at around $125,000. The GT R Pro will be considerably more.
