The Mercedes-AMG GT R has gotten lots of exposure and it’s definitely made its mark by posting a pretty impressive Nürburgring lap time.

Beating the likes of the Viper ACR, Ferrari 488 GTB and Lexus LFA Nürburgring Pack on the Nordschleife proves that Affalterbach’s engineers have done a comprehensive job in setting up Merc’s hottest coupe.

The twin-turbo V8 churns out 588 PS (577 HP) and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque, which are good enough for a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint of 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 318 km/h (198 mph).

It’s not all about raw power, though, as they also tuned the suspension and put on an aero package to reduce lift and increase downforce. They also shaved off some weight and introduced a nine-stage traction control, which should come pretty handy when you want to learn the car.

The GT R has been labeled the Green Beast of the Green Hell, and the press car’s paint is no coincidence. Yet, at least this reviewer discovered that, while immensely fast and capable both on track and on the road, it’s not such an angry beast after all. Surprised? So were we…

Video