From the March/April 2026 issue of Car and Driver.

Lap Time: 2:46.9

Class: LL4 | Base: $199,650 | As Tested: $211,660
Power and Weight:
603 hp • 4268 lb • 7.1 lb/hp
Tires:
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R
F: 295/30ZR-21 (102Y) MO1
R: HL305/30ZR-21 (107Y) MO1

Getting comfortable on a track doesn't mean enjoying the Mercedes-AMG GT63 Pro's heated and ventilated seats or the soft leather lining the interior. Comfort is born of strong brakes and secure handling. That's what we loved about last year's GT63: how quickly we were able to get up to speed and stay there. Even the higher limits born of the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires feel easy to exploit.

The Pro pulled 1.12 g's in Turn 1, a 0.05-g improvement and right up there with this year's best. With more grip comes greater speed where it matters: through the left-hander called NASCAR Bend and the fast transitions of the Climbing Esses, where the Pro averages 124.8 mph. The Pro exits Hog Pen 2.0 mph faster than before and carries more speed down the Front Straight despite the drag of additional downforce. Having a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 with 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet, gains of 26 horses and 37 pound-feet, helps.

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2025mercedesamggt63proView Photos
Michael Simari and Marc Urbano|Car and Driver

Last year, we weren't in love with the GT63's brake pedal, which felt soft and inconsistent as the laps piled on. The Pro's updated (and standard) carbon-ceramic rotors, new pads, and titanium backing plates improve pedal-pressure consistency, making us more comfortable with this shapely machine.

The Pro is heavier than the standard version, largely due to the liquid-cooled differentials and transfer case that allow for extended track use but add 33 pounds. At 4268 pounds, the Pro is clearly no lightweight, but the mass never made us uncomfortable. Everything feels right immediately, from the precise steering to the active anti-roll control that keeps body motions in check.

2025mercedesamggt63proView Photos
Michael Simari and Marc Urbano|Car and Driver

This car's 2:46.9 lap is 3.4 seconds quicker than the standard GT63's, but more significant, it's a car that would be comfortable turning in sub-2:50s all day.

Back to Lightning Lap 2026

Headshot of David Beard
David Beard
Managing Testing Editor
David Beard studies and reviews automotive related things and pushes fossil-fuel and electric-powered stuff to their limits. His passion for the Ford Pinto began at his conception, which took place in a Pinto.