Mercedes-AMG GT2 is the brand_s most powerful customer race car

Mercedes-AMG's GT is nearly ready to retire, its successor is around the corner, but the model isn't hanging up its helmet yet. The German firm unveiled a new track-only evolution of the coupe designed to compete in GT2 races and powered by a 707-horsepower V8 engine.

AMG proudly points out the GT2 is the most powerful customer race car it has ever developed. Power comes from a twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8 fitted with a flat-plane crankshaft and tuned to develop up to 707 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. It spins the rear wheels via a six-speed sequential transaxle with a mechanical locking differential that's linked to a pair of steering wheel-mounted shift paddles.

There's more to the GT2 than a sleek-looking silhouette and an awesome-sounding engine. Aimed at what AMG describes as "gentlemen drivers," the coupe features an adjustable suspension system, a specific body kit that includes a new (and massive) rear wing, and numerous carbon fiber components to keep weight in check. The GT2 weighs about 3,000 pounds including the air conditioning system.