The 2023 Mercedes AMG GT Black Series is a wild GT-style supercar that will make you think you have seen a unicorn. It is not every day that you see a race car on the highway. On a recent episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, Leno went out with Mercedes AMG Ambassador and Trans-Am Racing Champion Tommy Kendall to explore all the racetrack influence of this questionably street-legal masterpiece.
When Tommy walks into the garage, he immediately realizes this car is not just any AMG GT Black Series. This unicorn of a Mercedes-Benz that Jay Leno borrowed for this episode was the P One Edition of which only 275 could be made. This is because you can only opt for this package on the Mercedes AMG GT Black Series if you already put down money for the F1-inspired Mercedes AMG Project One. The P One Edition was meant to hold over those 275 customers while they wait.
Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Black Series Looks Fast When Still
The car on the show belongs to another avid car collector, Shark Tank entrepreneur Robert Herjavec. These cars are so rare even Mercedes could not provide one for the show. Upon laying eyes on it, you are drawn in by a long nose housing GT3-style vent openings leading to a cabin almost above the rear axle and topped off with a huge carbon fiber wing that sits at the height of the roof which is also made of carbon fiber.
A 2-tone livery of Mercedes silver transitions to black as you move front to rear. The rear glimmers with the 3-point Mercedes logo scattered throughout the paint. Teal accents run along the body and are a nod to the Petronas Race Team, AMG’s F1 title sponsor.
Most Powerful Engine Ever Used In An AMG
I am sure you are expecting some 7.0L, V12, a heavyweight of an engine. No, no, no! The team at AMG managed to squeeze 720 horsepower and 590 ft-lbs of torque from only 4.0L of V8 displacement. Instead of extra cylinders, this engine is loaded with 2 turbos spinning up the extra air needed to reach these wild numbers. The power is managed through a reinforced AMG SPEEDSHIFT® DCT 7G dual-clutch transmission that shifts like butter and lightning quick too.
This puts the power to the pavement through the rear wheels and results in a 0-60 mph of 3.1 seconds, 124 mph in under 9 seconds, and a top speed of 202 mph. That is quite impressive for a car that weighs in at 3655 pounds. Even with all the lightweight glass, carbon fiber, and magnesium parts, this car still tips the scales a bit. However, Leno mentions in his test drive that the car hides that heaviness very well. Let's explore why that may be.
AMG Ride Control Is The Pinnacle Of Suspension Performance
Managing all that power in a high-performance setting can be daunting. Luckily, The Mercedes AMG GT Black Series has a coil-over suspension adapted from motorsports and paired with AMG Ride Control. This suspension system allows the driver to push the limits, all while maintaining stability and comfort. The AMG Ride Control uses a network of sensors to determine lateral acceleration, steering angle, and any chassis movement to adjust shock dampening on the fly.
With all that power and speed, you cannot ignore the brakes, and AMG did not. Gigantic 6-piston Brembo calipers clamp onto drilled ceramic discs that fill out the entire 19-inch wheel. The wheels are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Cup 2 tires to maximize grip. The sophistication of this level makes the GT3-inspired car continue to feel like a civilized street ride and makes the case for calling this car a unicorn.
Controlling Lift-Off On A Rocket Ship
While the suspension and brakes tend to keep the car pointed in the right direction, aerodynamics work against them. The Mercedes AMG GT Black Series design always had a high-performance grip in mind. The most notable item is the radiator exhaust vents coming out of the hood. They are massive, and move air coming out of the radiator over the hood instead of into the engine bay. This creates a substantial amount of downforce to keep the front end planted.
A manually adjustable front diffuser allows for a "Street" and "Race" position, and a double diffuser in the rear controls the airflow exiting the rear of the vehicle. A few other aero components like a huge fender vent and ground effects along the side lead you to the rear wing. Finally, the high carbon fiber wing balances the downforce made upfront. It is also mechanically adjustable from inside the cabin to dial in the handling feel you prefer.
Mercedes-AMG Packs Comfort In This Race Car
Just because this is basically a track car does not mean the interior is stripped down. It is full of gorgeous details you would expect from the brand from real carbon fiber, rich leather, and Alcantara materials. The bucket sport seats are form-fitting and keep you in place through high-speed turns. Details like deviated stitching and embossed leather run throughout the cabin.
In the example car, Jay Leno had on his show you have extra special touches from the use of the Petronas teal color in stitching and a dual stripe down the center of the seats. On top of that, you have all the other modern amenities including driving modes from "Comfort" to "Race".
Wild was the easy part to grasp, but hopefully, you now see what Mr. Leno saw in this unicorn of a supercar. You'd be hard-pressed to find a factory build that not only sets records on the Nurburgring Race Track but is also comfortable enough for everyday driving.
Sources: Jay Leno Via YouTube, Mercedes-AMG