Unveiled in 2014, the Mercedes-AMG GT is the company’s latest halo sports car and replaces the SLS AMG in the lineup. However, the AMG GT is smaller than its predecessor and aimed at a slightly different market niche, having been developed as a competitor for the Porsche 911. The sports car was also used to introduce AMG’s brand-new engine, a twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8. Launched in GT and GT S variations, the two-door gained higher performance GT R (coupe) and GT C (roadster) models, as well as a GT3-spec race car version in 2016.
For 2017, Mercedes-Benz is preparing a second race car based on the AMG GT, this time around in GT4 specification. Although the brand has yet to say when this car will be ready to hit the track, it will be eligible for various GT4 racing series in the FIA calendar, including the GT4 European Series and the British GT Championship. If you’re not familiar with the GT4 class, it’s a less powerful, more affordable version of GT3 and it’s mostly dedicated to amateur drivers. The cars are also equalized in order to allow driving skill to become key.
“The development of the Mercedes-AMG GT4 is another important step in the continuing expansion of our Mercedes-AMG motorsport program. The excellent feedback of our Customer Sports teams concerning the AMG GT3 and the increasing interest for GT4 race cars strengthened us in our decision. We are delighted to address an even larger target group of amateur and professional drivers and teams in the future with it,” said Tobias Moers, chairman of Mercedes-AMG.
Most details are still under wraps and we have just a couple of photos to run buy, but I’ll be back with an update as soon as Mercedes-AMG spills the beans. Meanwhile, check out my speculative review below.
Continue reading to learn more about the Mercedes-AMG GT4.
Exterior
Although Mercedes-AMG has yet to release specific details about the car, the two official photos published so far gives us just enough information about what the GT4 racer is all about on the outside. Much like any GT4-spec vehicle out there, the AMG GT4 is a less aggressive version of the GT3 race car. To paint a better picture, it’s an AMG GT R with enhanced aerodynamics and a bigger rear wing.
Much like any GT4-spec vehicle out there, the AMG GT4 is a less aggressive version of the GT3 race car.
This is mostly visible up front, where the GT4 is heavily based on the road-going GT R. Unlike the GT3, which has a wide trapezoidal opening in the bumper, the GT4 sports the GT R’s big intakes at each corner. However, the bumper is enhanced by a significantly larger carbon-fiber splitter that extends toward the wheels, while the grille includes a race-spec tow hook just like the GT3. The engine hood is also based on the GT3’s, featuring a big vent in the middle and quick-release pins.
Moving onto the sides, there are more similarities to the GT R model. For instance, the vents on the front fenders are smaller than the GT3 and mimic the shape of those seen on the road-going car. The side skirts also seem to be borrowed from the GT R. On the other hand, the GT4 features extra vents atop the rear fenders, while the standard wheels have been replaced by lightweight rims wrapped in slick tires. Around back, things are pretty simple, as the GT4 is essentially a GT R with a larger wing and vented rear glass. The wing is not as big as GT3’s, but it’s large enough to matter in the downforce department.
COMPETING DESIGNS
Since all GT4-spec cars are beefed-up version of their road-going counterparts, styling depends on the design of the vehicles they’re based on. This doesn’t really matter out on the track, but it’s important to note that no current GT4 car is notably more radical than the others. Whether we’re talking about the Ford Mustang GT4, Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport or McLaren 570S GT4, they’re all road-legal vehicles with added splitters, wings, and race-spec wheels. On the other hand, the 570S GT4 looks a lot more menacing on the race track thanks to the sports car’s aggressive and sleek design.
Interior
There are no photos of the interior, but given that all GT4 cars are loosely based on their road-going counterparts, it’s safe to assume that this Merc won’t be any different. I actually expect it to be very similar to the AMG GT3, which we’ve already seen in 2015.
Note: Mercedes-AMG GT3 interior shown here.
Given that all GT4 cars are loosely based on their road-going counterparts, it’s safe to assume that this Merc won’t be any different.
Look for the same swoopy dashboard and aircraft inspired center console to be in there, but it should also feature a number of redesigned elements. For instance, the switchgear and information displays will be drastically updated for better driver engagement, while the standard gauge cluster will be replaced with the color race display. This new unit will provide vital stats like speed, engine rpm, operating temperatures, lap times, current gear selection, and an up-shift indicator to the driver. The standard steering wheel will also be ditched in favor of a race-spec unit, but don’t expect it to be as radical as the Formula One-inspired controller in the GT3 car. I’m think it will be more of a flat-bottom unit with paddle shifters and plenty of controls within the driver’s hands.
Other gear should include lightweight door panels and bucket seats, but it remains to be seen whether the latter will be the carbon-fiber units in the GT3. Given that Mercedes likely wants the GT4 to be more affordable, some compromises will have to be made. However, the German company won’t cut any corners when it comes to safety and will install a full roll cage built per FIA specifications. The high-strength steel cage that’s bolted to the car’s aluminum spaceframe will complement the Head and Neck Support feature of the racing seat, the HANS restraint system, and a six-point harness with reinforced anchor points.
Drivetrain
There’s no word on what will motivate the Mercedes-AMG GT4, but it’s safe to assume that the company will go with a race-prepped version of the twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8. The engine found its way only recently into the AMG GT3, which at first used the naturally aspirated, 6.3-liter V-8 found in the old SLS AMG GT3. Back in 2015, Mercedes explained that the naturally aspirated mill was chosen for its user-friendly technology, excellent reliability, long maintenance intervals, and low running costs. It also had something to do with the fact that the then-new 4.0-liter V-8 had no record in endurance racing. This changed for 2017 when the GT3 was fitted with the turbocharged V-8 and the GT4 should get the same drivetrain.
It’s safe to assume that the company will go with a race-prepped version of the twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8.
Output is obviously a mystery and we might not find out more about it anytime soon, because each car in the series must conform to a specific power-to-weight ratio. In short, the engine’s final horsepower output depends on the car’s weight and at this point we know nothing about that.
But, no matter the engine and specifications, the transmission will most likely be the six-speed transaxle from the AMG GT3. The gearbox will be mounted between the rear tires for better weight balance, while a torsionally rigid torque tube will connect the engine and transmission with the driveshaft spinning inside. Both are made from carbon fiber for reduced weight and added structural strength on the GT3 and this is likely to be carried over to the GT4 as well.
COMPETING PERFORMANCE
As mentioned earlier, the performance of GT4 cars is equalized on a power-to-weight basis in order to allow driving skill to become key, which means that the type of engine and specific horsepower figures aren’t as important as they would be in a road-car comparison. However, it’s worth mentioning that the GT4 racing class is as diverse as it gets when it comes to drivetrains, with nearly all vehicles using revised versions of production powerplants. For instance, the Mustang GT4 shares its 5.2-liter V-8 engine with the road-going Shelby GT350, while the McLaren 570S GT4 has the same 3.8-liter V-8 offered across the entire lineup. Other cars, like the Cayman GT4 Clubsport, hit the track with the exact same engine and output as the production model. Finally, the GT4 class allows both naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines.
Competition
The AMG GT4’s competition will depend on which series it will be raced in, as this class has been adopted by many national and continental championships. For instance, the GT4 European Series was contested by no fewer than the ten vehicles. Entries include the Aston Martin Vantage GT4, already a classic among gentleman racers, the Maserati GranTurismo MC GT4, as well as the GT4 versions of the BMW M3 and M4. KTM also makes a GT4-spec variant of the X-Bow, while Ford and Chevrolet have their very own race cars. In all, there are more than 15 GT4 vehicles used around the world. That’s far more than we can mention in detail here, but let’s have a closer look at some of them.
Ford Mustang GT4
Brand-new for 2017, the Mustang GT4 is based on the GT350R-C, which has already won its class in the 2016 IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge. Although similar in appearance with the Shelby, the GT4 car has revised aerodynamics and a massive wing atop its trunk lid. Motivation comes from the same 5.2-liter, flat-plane crankshaft V-8 that’s also offered in the road-going GT350. The Mustang GT4 is eligible for the Grand Sport class of IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, the Pirelli World Challenge GTS, and European GT4, among other racing series’, and will definitely run against the Mercedes-AMG GT4 in the future.
Learn more about the Ford Mustang GT4 here.
McLaren 570S GT4
So far the only the only race-spec version of the 570S, the GT4 was unveiled in early 2015 and sent on the track during the 2016 season. However, McLaren used just one car for development purposes in the British GT championship, with the homologated, production model made available to customers for 2017. Raced by the revived Ecurie Ecosse team, the 570S GT4 won two out of nine events and promises to be very competitive in the GT4 European Series. Essentially a beefed-up version of the road-going sports car, the 570S GT4 is powered by the same award-winning, twin-turbo 3.8-liter V-8 that propels every production McLaren. Pricing starts from £159,900, which converts to around $201,000 as of December 2016.
Find out more about the McLaren 570S GT4 here.
Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport
Launched in late 2015, the Cayman GT4 Clubsport is not as extreme as the AMG GT or McLaren 570S, but that’s mostly because the road car it is based on, the Porsche Cayman GT4, is already a potent track toy. Unlike its rivals, the Clubsport received only minor aerodynamic modifications and uses the exact same engine as the production model (output figures are also identical). However, the German carmaker equipped the coupe with a bespoke transmission with a mechanical locking differential, an 88-pound weight reduction, and suspension components from the 911 GT3 Cup. The car had a tremendous season in the GT4 European Series, helping PROsport Performance win the teams’ championship. The Cayman GT4 Clubsport is priced at $165,000 in North America.
Read more about the Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport here.
Conclusion
With the Mercedes-AMG GT3 having already achieved success in its first season in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup and the ADAC GT Masters, it’s not surprising that AMG wants to expand its motorsport program. Now that the GT3 has arrived Stateside to race in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, it makes a lot of sense for AMG to look for more exposure and enter the lower, more affordable GT4 category. It’s too early to say whether the AMG GT4 will be as successful as the GT3, but I have plenty of reasons to believe that it will give its competitors a run for their money.
Press Release
The AMG Customer Sports involvement keeps growing continuously: the latest element is the development of a race car to GT4 regulations. At the occasion of the end-of-season celebration 2016 (Saturday, 3 December), Tobias Moers, Chairman of the Management Board of Mercedes-AMG GmbH gave customer teams and drivers a first preview of the new Mercedes-AMG GT4.
The Mercedes-AMG GT R that was presented this year is the basis for the development of the new race car. The top athlete in the Mercedes-AMG portfolio has excellent characteristics for motorsport purposes. Like with the AMG GT3 race car, particular user-friendliness and an excellent level of safety will be highly important goals during the development process of the new member of the AMG motorsport family.
Tobias Moers, Chairman of the Management Board of Mercedes-AMG GmbH: “The development of the Mercedes-AMG GT4 is another important step in the continuing expansion of our Mercedes-AMG motorsport programme. The excellent feedback of our Customer Sports teams concerning the AMG GT3 and the increasing interest for GT4 race cars strengthened us in our decision. We are delighted to address an even larger target group of amateur and professional drivers and teams in the future with it.”