Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series

Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series

The Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series arrived in 2021 as the most extreme road-legal car ever produced by AMG, and it immediately validated that claim by setting a production car lap record at the Nurburgring Nordschleife with a time of 6 minutes and 43.616 seconds. This was not merely a faster version of the AMG GT — it was a comprehensive re-engineering of the platform into a track weapon that happened to carry license plates.

The engine is the star of the show. AMG's M178 LS2 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 was extensively modified with a flat-plane crankshaft — a first for any AMG production engine. The flat-plane crank allowed a more even firing order, higher revving capability, and a fundamentally different exhaust note compared to the cross-plane crank used in other AMG V8s. Output reached 730 horsepower at 6,700 RPM and 800 Nm of torque at 2,000 RPM, transmitted through a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The engine received new turbochargers, larger intercoolers, revised intake and exhaust systems, and a unique engine management calibration.

Aerodynamics defined the Black Series as much as its engine. The car generated up to 400 kilograms of aerodynamic downforce at top speed — an extraordinary figure for a road car. The front featured a massive carbon fiber splitter with manually adjustable flaps. The rear was dominated by a two-stage adjustable carbon fiber wing mounted on prominent pylons. Underbody aerodynamics were extensively developed with a fully enclosed flat floor and a large rear diffuser. Carbon fiber wheel arch vents, fender louvres, and a revised roofline air scoop all contributed to the aerodynamic package.

The bodywork was widened significantly compared to the standard AMG GT. Carbon fiber fenders, hood, trunk lid, roof, and aerodynamic components kept weight in check despite the additions. The front track was widened, and the overall stance was dramatically more aggressive. Large air intakes in the front bumper fed the intercoolers and brakes.

The chassis was comprehensively retuned. Adjustable coil-over suspension with adaptive dampers allowed the ride height and compression/rebound characteristics to be configured for road or track use. Carbon ceramic brakes were standard — 402mm at the front with six-piston calipers and 380mm at the rear with four-piston calipers. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R MO tires were developed specifically for the car, providing exceptional grip in dry conditions.

Inside, the Black Series featured lightweight carbon fiber seats, Alcantara trim, and AMG's digital instrument cluster with specific Black Series displays including a lap timer and telemetry functions. The infotainment system retained AMG's MBUX integration, ensuring that the car remained usable as a grand tourer despite its extreme performance capability.

The Nurburgring record run was conducted by AMG development driver Maro Engel on November 4, 2020, using a completely standard production car with only the addition of a roll cage and racing harness for safety. The 6:43.616 lap time dethroned the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ and established the AMG GT Black Series as the fastest production car around the most demanding circuit in the world at that time.

Production was limited to approximately 1,700 units worldwide, with each car built to order. The Black Series was offered in both left and right-hand drive configurations. A special Project One Edition painted in AMG Green Hell Magno was available for customers who also ordered the Mercedes-AMG ONE hypercar.

The AMG GT Black Series represents the absolute pinnacle of AMG's traditional front-engine, rear-wheel-drive formula. With the AMG GT family giving way to a new generation of electrified performance cars, the Black Series stands as the ultimate expression of what AMG could achieve with a combustion engine, manual aerodynamic adjustment, and a dual-clutch transmission — a future classic guaranteed.