When the new Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series arrives in 2020, it will reset the AMG benchmark on several levels, but most importantly it will deliver a powertrain first for the German performance brand.
Tipped to pump out around 500kW of power, or a whopping 670hp, the V8 that powers the most ferocious AMG GT yet is "not a typical V8", Mercedes-AMG chief Tobias Moers told carsales.com.au today.
It also leverages at least one element of the sold-out, multi-million dollar F1-inspired Mercedes-AMG Project ONE, in the form of the specially-developed Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.
During an interview with Aussie journalists at the 2019 Frankfurt motor show, the AMG boss's face lit up when conversation turned to his company's latest Black Series model, which will follow in the footsteps of the AMG SLS Black Series and AMG C 63 Black Series.
"Expect something different," he said with a board grin. "We never did something like this with an engine before -- for AMG it's the first one," he said.
Make no mistake, this will be an unconventional V8 and, although it's not a world-first, it will be an AMG-first, the exec conceding that other car-makers have modified petrol engines in the same way.
"There's nothing common with the GT R [engine]. It's still a 4.0-litre engine, twin-turbo, but a different engine," he smiled.
He confirmed the cylinder-heads were new and the 4.0-litre block will remain but wouldn’t be drawn on how the Mercedes-AMG GT R Black Series' V8 powerplant will be different to other rear-drive GT cars.
Moers said there will be surprises across the board, and the spy photos of the AMG GT R Black show a bonkers machine that's wider and more aggressively styled than ever before.
But in terms of the engine mods, we can tick a few things off the list. Water injection for instance. Arch-rival BMW M division has dabbled with water injection but AMG won't follow this path, and EQ (electric) boosting are not on the menu this time.
"No water injection, still a combustion [engine with no hybrid boost]," confirmed Moers.
"You know, when we brought the GT R to the market everybody said to me, OK what are you going to do with the Black Series? I told everybody, it should really be a step [up].
"We took our time to get all the things together, but now we're there. We've got the car on the track, at the Nordschleife. We're doing other things. It's something really surprising," he said, almost unable to contain his excitement.
Based on the Mercedes-AMG GT R, a 430kW/700Nm sledgehammer, the GT R Black Series won't be offered with a manual transmission, said Moers, but he did confirm that the "…engine, power output, suspension, aero," will be new.
"It's on the track. I'm going to drive it on Thursday," he said, confirming the active aerodynamics – self-actuating spoilers and vents, potentially – will take a step forward, allowing the car to lodge very quick lap times.
Hold tight for a jaw-dropping lap time at the Nurburgring.
The 'regular' AMG GT R is priced at $350,770 and competitors for the Mercedes-AMG GT R Black Series will include vehicles like the circa-$500,000 McLaren 720S, which provides a ball-park price comparison.
And unlike the AMG GT R Pro, the next AMG Black Series will be coming to Australia.
One thing Moers did confirm was that the next AMG Black Series won't be the last to be powered exclusively by a combustion engine – despite previous confirmations the brand is embracing hybrid and EV powertrains in future.
"Maybe it’s not a high percentage in our portfolio in the future, but there will still be room [for combustion engines]. Because maybe that's an expression of a different luxurious attitude?"
Whatever the future holds, one thing is crystal clear: The AMG chief's tone and body language suggests the latest Black Edition is going to be worth waiting for, and Moers is very happy with the powertrain "surprises" that will be revealed soon.
Question is, what are they? Take a guess in the comments below.