2020 Mercedes-AMG GT R

The GT range of high-performance cars from the Mercedes-AMG stable has captured the hearts and imaginations of gearheads across the globe with its stunningly gorgeous looks and roaring V8 soundtracks. Considered the modern interpretation of the legendary 300 SL, the AMG GT line of cars represents the ultimate performance car in the Mercedes-AMG lineup, and the GT R is one of the baddest cars to ever roll off the production line. The 2020 car looks better than ever thanks to redesigned LED headlights and taillights, wider rear fenders, an aggressive diffuser, and AMG alloy wheels. But 'the tech such as adaptive aero and suspension, and that finely tuned V8 engine, now developing 577 horsepower, that makes the GT R truly come alive. It may be a tech powerhouse, but compared to rivals such as the Porsche 911, it's a harsher car, and not as practical to live with. Starting at $162,900, the Mercedes-AMG GT R is one of the most ferocious three-pointed star cars ever produced.

The GT R asks a significant premium over the standard GT car, which makes total sense when you consider the added performance and unique features that come with this model. Starting at $115,900 excluding tax registration and a gas guzzler tax of $1,000, the Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe is nothing to sneeze at, but it will cost you a minimum amount of $162,900 to add the letter R behind the GT moniker; that's a difference of almost $50,000. The competition also comes in cheaper, with the Nissan GT-R only costing $113,540. Tick all the boxes on the options list, and the GT R will end up costing you well over $200,000. The hardcore GT R Pro only starts at $199,650, and is limited to 750 units globally, of which 150 will be coming stateside.

With a lap time of 7:10.92 around the Nurburgring, you'd best believe that the AMG GT R is an accomplished handler, but it comes with a price: on ordinary city roads the GT R can feel harsh, especially at lower speeds. The AMG DYNAMIC SELECT driving system allows the driver to select between Comfort, Sport, Sport+, RACE, and a newly introduced Slippery mode. In comfort mode, the GT R delivers a firm ride that borders on harsh; an indicator of the car's track racing aspirations. Flipping to more aggressive modes increase engine and throttle response, shift timing, traction control, suspension stiffness, and exhaust sound. Step up to Race mode, and the GT R transforms into a track weapon: you get the fastest reaction times from the transmission, and the electronic stability system allows the driver to select from nine different levels of intervention. Step into a corner at high speed, and the GT R will take your breath away with its ability to grip to the road, and respond to the slightest of steering inputs, especially for such a weighty car, and the rear-wheel steering system makes tight corners disappear in the rear-view mirror. We applaud the team who developed the GT R's suspension and chassis setup: it delivers a bit of everything, and nails it all.

We live in a world where supercars are no longer the top dogs on the road; hypercars rule the roost and have become the ultimate number-chasing weapons for the road, and while they might perform brilliantly, they lack practicality and can come across as clinical in the way they go about things. Mercedes-AMG, on the other hand, has focused less on sheer numbers, and more on the emotive side of supercar construction. Don't get us wrong, the GT R is still a technological marvel, but it brings so much more than horsepower figures to the table. It's an all-out German super muscle car that looks as crazy as it sounds, and it has single-handedly revived Mercedes-Benz's status as a builder of supercars. Sure there was the SLR McLaren, but with scores of celebrities snatching up GTs, and a series of good performances on the track, the GT, and GT R have become household names in the performance car community and they definitely deserve their place amongst the future classics of the automotive world.

There's only two options: you either buy the GT R, oryou strap on your helmet and get the GTR Pro, so if you decide to pull the trigger on the GT R, we'd suggest a few additions that should make this German muscle car even more special. On the exterior, we'd go with the ridiculously in-your-face Green Hell Magno paint color, and fit a set of black 19/20 inch AMG Performance forged twin five-spoke wheels, as well as the aggressive AMG carbon fiber exterior package. Inside there's no other choice than to go with the exclusive AMG interior carbon fiber package with red seat belts. The $1,300 Convenience package, which adds heated and power-folding mirrors, HomeLink and keyless entry, is a no-brainer, and we'd also suggest going for the mid-range Burmeister sound system with 10 high-quality speakers and a 640-watt 10-channel digital amplifier. Finally, the $875 Lane Tracking package should be a definite tick as it adds blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep assist. We'd only recommend going for the GT R Pro (if you can find one) if you're planning to exclusively compete on the track. Driving one on a daily basis will require a special kind of dedication, and with only 150 bound for our shores, you'd cry if it got damaged.

When the AMG GT was first launched back in 2015, it heralded a new age for the German automaker and placed Mercedes-AMG firmly amongst the other supercar producers of the world, including European rivals such as Porsche and Ferrari. Five years later, the AMG GT is still a force to be reckoned with; it's twin-turbo V8 (which it shares with the GT R) produces 469 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque, and will accelerate to sixty in 3.9 seconds, almost half a second off the GT R, but out in the real world, the GT feels just as fast, and will only reveal its lesser status on track. The GT shares its wheelbase with the GT R, but weighs less, at 3,666 pounds, and lacks the aggressive exterior looks of the GT R, which will be a selling point for some. Inside, the GT looks and feels the same, and only misses out on a few seat and trim options, but shares tech such as the new for 2020 infotainment system and LED headlights. We'd say go with the GT if you're not a hardcore track fan; it costs almost $50,000 less and on the road it feels just as fast.

This is a serious clash between East and West: the Nissan GT-R is as popular as ever and enjoys a massive aftermarket support structure, which means that you'll rarely find a stock Nissan GT-R in the wild. Powered by a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6, the Nissan might be down two-cylinders, but it still manages to produce 565 hp and 467 lb-ft of torque; numbers that can skyrocket to well over 600 hp with a simple plug-in tune. Power is sent to all four wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Nissan will return 16/22/18 mpg city/highway/combined, which is slightly better, but not by much. On the road, the GT-R transcends the border between car and driver: every input and suggestion is met with a cool and calculated response, and the GT-R will accelerate to sixty in only 2.9 seconds, making it over half a second quicker than the rear-wheel-drive AMG GT R. Where the Nissan starts to lose out is on the inside, where it can't match the premium feel of the Mercedes-AMG, and it also has a smaller trunk, measuring only 8.8 cubic feet. The GT-R might be quicker off the line and an extremely capable handler. But it lacks the excitement and brute nature of the AMG GT R. Even though it costs a whole lot more, we would have the Merc every time.