12-month wait for 430kW Mercedes-AMG GT R

MERCEDES-AMG already has a 12-month queue for the most potent version of its flagship GT sportscar line-up, the GT R Coupe, before it goes on sale in Australia.

Announcing a $348,711 starting price for the 430kW/700Nm beast, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific (MBAP) said that while most variants of the expanded and revamped AMG GT line-up – including the first drop-top GT Roadsters – are scheduled to arrive in Australian showrooms in October, first deliveries of the top-of-the-line GT R Coupe might sneak into the country a little earlier than that.

However, those cars are already spoken for, snapped up by customers who slapped down deposits when GT R pricing was first announced back in February.

MBAP public relations and product communications manager Jerry Stamoulis told GoAuto that customers who ordered a GT R now might expect delivery about 12 months from now.

He said high global demand for the GT flagship had stretched the AMG factory to its limits.

Mr Stamoulis declined to say how many GT Rs it expected to sell in Australia, but added that it should be able to sell every one that it could get its hands on in the foreseeable future.

The good news is that Australia is, as always with AMG, getting a sizeable slice of GT R production.

As well, the GT R is a fully fledged member of the GT line-up, not a limited edition, meaning customers will get their car as soon as the factory can ship it to Australia.

While the GT R employs the same 4.0-litre biturbo V8 as other GTs, engineers have turned up the power wick to 430kW/700Nm, placing it in a similar league to the Porsche 911 Turbo S (427kW/750Nm).

That is one of four states of tune for the V8 in the new-look GT line-up for the 2018 model year, others being 350kW/630Nm (GT), 384kW/670Nm (GT S), 410kW/680Nm (GT C).

Naturally, the GT R is the fastest variant in the line-up, dashing from zero to 100km/h in 3.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 318km/h.

Like other AMG GTs, the R is front engined but uses AMG’s own seven-speed dual-clutch transaxle transmission mounted on the rear axle to drive the rear wheels.

Available only in coupe form, the GT R borrows a number of race-bred features, including coil-over suspension and a revised traction control system with an ESC-off mode.

A large rear wing, active elements in the front splitter and a more pronounced rear diffuser help keep the GT R glued to the tarmac.

Like the GT C Coupe and Roadster, the R gets the fat rear mudguards and wider rear wheels, adding both practical and cosmetic appeal.

So far this year, Mercedes has sold 62 GTs, down from 79 last year. However, many potential buyers will be cooling their jets, waiting for the 2018 model-year GT range to lob from October.