Mercedes-AMG GT R Tries to Hit 200 MPH on the Autobahn, Doesn't Stop There

But I'd probably feel safer on the mountain road. The more you increase the speed, the less likely you will survive a potential crash. Still, I'm sad that I have never gone past 200 mph (321 kph) while driving, even though I have experienced that speed as a passenger. Going that fast in a video game won't cut it, even using a VR system.

Watching YouTube videos of other people doing it doesn't come close, but it can be fun occasionally. We live in an era where most supercars can comfortably fly past 200 mph. But it's not exclusively their realm, as other sports cars can reach those speeds given the right upgrades. Many years have passed since I last experienced the grunt of an AMG-developed V8 engine. I sat in the passenger seat of an E55 for 15 minutes, and the torque felt endless.

Sadly, I have never driven one, but that may change in time. I had a lot of fun recently challenging a Gran Turismo 7 online Time Trial using the 2017 Mercedes-AMG GT R. I have seen what this thing can do at one of the local track days in my area. I'd still opt for a Porsche 911 over it, but that's beside the point for now.

Today's Autobahn test shows what the German-built supercar can do in a No Speed Limit area. In stock form, the M178 twin-turbo V8 churns out 577 horsepower and 516 lb-ft (700 Nm) of torque. According to official data, it can reach 198 mph (319 kph) if you've got the space, courage, and skills to push it that far.

But tuning in the modern era is easily accessible, and so many companies can further unleash your supercar's potential. In this case, Simon Motorsport from Germany took the AMG GT R to the next level. Their SMN 600 package is rather accessible at around €2,000 ($2,146), but this car has the SMN-850 upgrade that includes modified turbochargers, among other things.

Paying €20,000 for an upgrade may sound ridiculous to people driving ordinary cars. But consider the GT R. The cheapest one I found in Germany costs around $100,000. But the Black Series version can cost seven times that figure! This test reveals how easily this machine can fly past 200 mph. It only stops at 203 mph (328 kph), which may or may not be underwhelming, depending on your point of view.

If you need more than that, this one vlogger from Germany recently tested the Mercedes-AMG One on the Autobahn, and he recorded a top speed of almost 218 mph (350 kph). I wonder how many more years will go by before these cars feel slow to the average driver.