Mercedes-AMG GT-R

Here it is. The Mercedes-AMG GT-R. And boy, is it antagonistic.

Yep. If Darth Vader made the decision to buy a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive supercar, a matte-black AMG GT-R would be his choice.

Mercedes were tasked with the previously seemingly impossible task of overthrowing the incredible Porsche 911 GT3RS, and they pulled through with the GT-R. It's aggressive, it's wide, and it's certainly not afraid to get a little bit rowdy. Sitting in the front of the GT-R is a 4-litre, biturbo V8 capable of producing 580hp, achieved by a remodelling of the turbo system, with boost pressure being increased from 1.2bar to 1.35. It's a completely new car from the GT-S, with revamped internals and 15kg in curb weight shaved off, with an increased throttle response also present. All of this results in a 0-100km/h time of 3.6 seconds - 1/10th of a second faster than the 2016 GT3RS.

The familiar 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox returned in the R, with paddle-shifters to work your way up and down the gears. The top speed is a blistering 320km/h; but it's not only good in a straight line. Structural and chassis rigidity was a focus when engineering the GT-R, with many hidden components such as the propshaft using carbon-fibre. Fins on the bottom section of the grille have been added, increasing airflow and aerodynamical efficiency. Active-aerodynamics are also featured, with sections of the underbelly automatically lowering.

The aerodynamics also help in making the GT-R so visually appealing. Just look at it. It's one of the most beautiful and aggressive pieces of machinery that is a product of the last 10 years, and when paired with a matte-black spec, it's safe to say you may need a new pair of underpants if it was to appear in your rear-vision mirror. It's called 'The Beast of The Green Hell', due to it being developed, tested and perfected at the Nürburgring and due to the launch spec being a very loud green spec, but this specific car may as well be named 'The Beast of The Black Hell'. Yellow calipers give it another extra bit of flare, and truly set off the look. 19" wheels are placed on the front, with another inch added to the rear. The front splitter is sharp, while fitting in with the overall flow of the car. The rear spoiler is perfect; its large but not obnoxious and is essential in creating an aerodynamically sound car.

Price when new: From $373,277 AUD Secondhand: $338,888 - $588,888 AUD https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/mercedes-benz/amg-gt/r-badge/?sort=Price