Mercedes - Repair and Service Redwood City - Mercedes-Benz AMG GT spawns track car limited to 55 units - Bosch European (650) 368-3000

  

 

If you thought the GT Black Series would remain the most hardcore version of Mercedes-Benz AMG's GT sports car, then you'd be wrong.

AMG on Wednesday unveiled the even more extreme GT Track Series, limited to just 55 cars in celebration of this year's 55th anniversary of the Affalterbach tuner's founding. Its arrival also likely marks the end of the road for the current GT as a redesigned model has already been spotted testing.

 

As the name suggests, the GT Track Series has been developed exclusively for track use. It's closely related to AMG's GT3 and GT4 race cars, though produces a lot more power. The car's 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 is tuned to deliver 724 hp, or 4 horses more than the GT Black Series. The extra bump is courtesy of race-spec fuel injectors, and a few other tweaks.

2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Track Series

 

The engine is mated to a 6-speed sequential transmission instead of the road car's 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, and drive is to the rear wheels via a carbon-fiber torque tube and adjustable differential.

Another key change for the GT Track Series is the installation of four-way Bilstein dampers at each corner. These have high- and low-speed settings in the rebound and compression levels, and also allow for the ride height to be adjusted. Adjustable anti-roll bars have also been fitted.

A set of 18-inch forged wheels are standard, as are steel brake rotors measuring 15.35 inches up front and 14 inches at the rear. A brake beam has been installed for adjusting the brake balance.

2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Track Series

 

Carbon fiber is used for both the exterior and cabin to improve rigidity while reducing weight. This extends to the dashboard, seats, and door linings, helping to bring the curb weight down to 3,086 pounds, versus the roughly 3,500 pounds of the road car.

Facing the driver is a Bosch display unit that incorporates a data logging system able to keep track of lap times, among other functions. According to AMG, the GT Track Series is one of the first cars to feature this system. Also in the cabin are motorsport-style systems for controlling the traction and ABS, with the driver able to select from 12 levels of adjustment including an off setting.

The GT Track Series will be offered globally, though AMG hasn't said how many units of the total 55-car run are earmarked for the U.S. Pricing starts at 369,000 euros (approximately $404,680) and the first examples are due to be delivered in the second quarter.

 source: https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1135397_mercedes-benz-amg-gt-spawns-track-car-limited-to-55-units

by Viknesh Vijayenthiran
http://www.boscheuropean.com

BMW - Repair and Service Redwood City - 2025 BMW M5 spy shots: Hybrid power set for redesigned super sedan - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

 

 

BMW has been spotted testing a prototype for its redesigned M5, which is set to be the first in the nameplate's history to feature electrification.

It's expected to start sales in 2024, or about a year later than the redesigned 5-Series on which it is based. This points to it arriving as a 2025 model.

 The prototype may look like one of the testers for the redesigned 5-Series, but there are telltale clues that point to the M5 variant being tested here. These include the quad-exhaust tips, widened wheel arches, pizza tray-sized brake rotors, and multiple intakes in the front fascia.

We're likely still at an early stage of testing as evidenced by the makeshift nature of the wheel arches. Expect more advanced prototypes to have a cleaner design. Interestingly, the prototype is advanced enough to spot the dip in the hood leading back from the center of the grille, a design first seen on the M3/M4 duo.

A shot of the interior reveals a thick-rimmed steering wheel and floating screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment, a design first featured in the iX and slowly making its way into more BMWs.

There's also no missing the “Hybrid Test Vehicle” stickers that confirm an electrified powertrain. A likely bet is the electrified V-8 powertrain previewed in BMW's recent Concept XM and destined to appear in a production XM later this year. A video of a prototype reveals the signature growl of a V-8.

2025 BMW M5 spy shots - Photo credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien

 

The Concept XM's powertrain was a plug-in hybrid setup integrating a newly developed twin-turbocharged V-8 as its internal-combustion component, with the peak output claimed to be 750 hp and 737 lb-ft of torque. Expect similar numbers for the production XM and this M5. The current M5 tops out with 627 hp in CS guise.

We've heard that the redesigned M5 will also be the first in the nameplate's history with the choice of a second powertrain, specifically a battery-electric setup. This powertrain is reportedly coming with a three-motor setup good for more than 1,000 hp, which should help the M5 keep up with electric super sedans like the Tesla Model S Plaid and Lucid Air Dream Edition Performance. Should an electric M5 be launched, it isn't clear whether it will arrive alongside the hybrid. An electric version of the redesigned 5-Series is confirmed to be coming. It will be called an i5, and prototypes are already out testing.

 source: https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1134716_2025-bmw-m5-hybrid-spy-shots-video

 

by Viknesh Vijayenthiran
http://www.boscheuropean.com