Mercedes GT-R Tackles the ’Ring

Daimler AG says its Mercedes-AMG GT-R recently lapped Germany's 12.9-mile Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in 7 minutes and 10 seconds.

The AMG GT-R’s run is the fastest time in a “road-going sports car” tested by Sport Auto, a German enthusiast magazine known for chronicling fast ‘Ring times. Piloted by race car driver and Sport Auto writer Christian Gebhardt, the GT-R bested times by a Gumpert Apollo, Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4 and Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

The overall record for the grueling course is six minutes and 48 seconds, which was achieved in 2009 by the Radical SR8 LM coupe. Only three other vehicles—the Radical SR8 (6:56) Porsche 918 Spyder (6:57) and Lamborghini Aventador LP (6:59)—have broken the 7-minute barrier.

The AMG GT R is powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 that makes 577 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. The car can rocket from zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of 198 mph.