The Best Mercedes-AMG GT Is One You Can't Drive On The Street

This is a limited-edition, not-street-legal car with a race-themed graphics package for something that can't race. It's a very strange idea, even though the result is fascinating. Don't be fooled by the W16 name, either. That's a nod to the name of the company's 2025 F1 car and not the number of cylinders under the hood. Instead, this car uses the familiar AMG 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8.

It's not the V8 you'll find in the road car, though, and it's even more powerful than the one in the race car. The GT2 Edition W16 doesn't have to meet racing rules, so AMG could uncork it and add a Push2Pass feature. It now makes 818 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque, 98 horses and 148 pound-feet more than the standard racecar.

There's no dual-clutch or torque converter automatic transmission, either. The GT race cars use a rear-mounted six-speed sequential racing transmission. The W16 also uses four-way adjustable motorsports-designed shocks and has four-stage adjustable anti-roll bars. Pair that with magnesium 18-inch center-lock wheels, and you have a car that should be incredibly fast on straights, and faster in the curves. The top speed is "over 199 miles per hour."

Improvements to the GT2 aero pack include new active louvers above the front wheels, a larger front diffuser, and a carbon fiber lip spoiler on the trunk. The GT2 will also come with an F1-inspired drag reduction system that opens the rear wing for a higher top speed.

Because this is a race car (albeit one that doesn't meet any series requirements), it comes with all the extras it needs to get track-happy right away. That includes a carbon fiber safety cell, fire suppression system, and even an emergency hatch to hop out of. Oh, and it has room for 32 gallons of gas, making your lapping sessions a little longer if you're up to it.

Despite the extra safety gear and added aero, losing the interior and comfort features leaves the AMG GT2 extremely light. At just 3,153 pounds ready to go, it's 1,181 pounds lighter than the AMG GT 63 road car, and that's not the one with the plug-in hybrid battery.

Mercedes F1 driver Kimi Antonelli is the "Patron" of this special edition, which means that he test drove one before reveal. He's going to play a much larger part in selling the car, because on top of the green and silver Petronas livery, it will also come with his signature on the door sills. That's a real signature, too, so you might want to find out how to remove those sills before going on track.

AMG is going to build 30 copies of this car, with a starting price of 679,000 euros before taxes. That's a hair under $800,000. For your cash, you get more than just the car, though. You'll also get custom-fit racing gear from OMP and Bell, a special car cover, and "a special meet & greet with the drivers and senior members of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team."

"Formula 1 and GT Racing are the central pillars of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport. The Mercedes-AMG GT2 Edition W16 unites both worlds in one product. The limited edition model is our most powerful Customer Racing car to date and a spectacular race and track day vehicle in every respect. It combines fundamental characteristics of the Mercedes-AMG GT2 with stylistic and technical references from the Mercdes-AMG F1 W16 E Performance. With the exclusive handover event, we are creating an unforgettable experience."

- Christoph Sagemuller, head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport

If you want to use the car, you'll be limited to track days or local events. That is, unless you find a company like Lanzante to turn your monster Merc into something legal for street use.