Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series returns as most extreme model yet

Mercedes-AMG has officially confirmed the return of the GT Black Series as part of a joint development programme with its latest-generation GT3 race car, both derived from the earlier Concept AMG GT Track Sport.

AMG described the new road-going model as its most extreme Black Series yet, placing it above the GT 63 Pro – itself conceived as the most track-focused model in the second-generation GT line-up.

The current GT provides a reference point for the sort of performance expected. The GT 63 develops 577bhp and 590lb ft, while the GT 63 Pro lifts that to 603bhp and 627lb ft, with a 0-62mph time of 3.2sec and a top speed of 197mph.

The next Black Series will move well beyond that, said AMG.

The engine is also set to evolve. AMG has already confirmed that an updated version of its flat-plane-crank V8 will feature in a forthcoming limited-production Mythos model based on the CLE coupé. That same unit is expected to underpin the new Black Series.

The previous GT Black Series, launched in 2020, introduced a flat-plane-crank version of AMG’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8, producing 720bhp at up to 6900rpm and 590lb ft between 2000rpm and 6000rpm. It was capable of 0-62mph in around 3.2sec and a top speed of 202mph, along with a Nürburgring lap record for a production car at the time.

AMG’s assertion that the new model will be its most extreme to date applies not only to its engine. Prototypes of the new GT Black Series also receive more aggressive aero and a chassis set-up aimed more at circuit use than current GT models. The link with the GT3 programme is central to that, with both cars being developed from the same starting point, confirmed AMG.

Developing both the GT3 and its road twin in parallel allows AMG to carry over lessons from the track more directly, particularly in areas such as aerodynamics, cooling and chassis set-up.

The road car (red) is being developed in parallel with the GT3 racer (yellow)

“We are developing the most extreme Black Series ever. At the same time, we want to set the next record-breaker in motorsport with the future GT3,” said AMG CEO Michael Schiebe. “The foundation for this is the Concept AMG GT Track Sport – a technology demonstrator that was more than just a concept from the very start.”

The Black Series name has been used since 2006 on AMG’s most focused production road cars, beginning with the SLK 55 AMG Black Series and continuing through a series of low-volume, track-oriented models.