At the ongoing Los Angeles Auto Show 2018, Mercedes-Benz took the wraps off its updated GT model range. It is actually called the Mercedes-AMG GT, and while its mid-life update brings some subtle styling tweaks and an upgraded interior, it also comes with a limited-edition, track-focused variant called the GT R Pro. More on that later. Let’s first see what the changes in mildly facelifted Mercedes-AMG GT are.

There aren’t any major styling differences on the exterior. Apart from the reprofiled light enclosures at the front and the rear, a tweaked rear fascia and different exhaust tips depending on which variant of the Mercedes-AMG GT you choose, the sexy low-slung silhouette remains intact. Under the hood, the engine remains the same, and so does the oomph that it delivers in every variant. The 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 delivers 476PS/630 in the standard GT, 522PS/670Nm in the GT S, 557PS/680Nm in the GT C and 585PS/700Nm in the GT R and GT R Pro.

If all that has put you off, don’t worry because rather than delivering more power from the engine, the eggheads from Affalterbach have focused on sharpening the handling characteristics of the sportscar. The Mercedes-AMG GT family now features something called AMG Dynamics. With it, the driver can fine-tune the power distribution of power to the rear axles and the steering feel. To do that, the electronic aid brings in six driving modes – Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus, Race and Individual.

The biggest visible set of changes are inside the cabin. Mercedes-AMG has equipped the refreshed GT with the same set of goodies that we saw in the GT 4-Door Coupé. The list includes a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch infotainment display and a flat-bottom, multifunction steering wheel. The two displays can be controlled using the buttons on the steering wheel, which is draped in black Nappa leather.

Okay. Time to unravel what the Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro brings to the party. As mentioned above, the range-topping, limited-run variant does not have any more oomph to play with, and it is equipped with the same level of goodies that its immediate sibling – the GT R – has. The Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro has been built with a strong inspiration from motorsports. That means it is more about going around tracks faster rather than flattering the passengers with massage seats.

To put things in perspective, it lapped the fearsome Nürburgring in 7 minutes and 4.632 seconds. Even though it has the same power as the GT R, the GT R Pro is well over 6 seconds quicker around the world-famous track. How has it managed to do that? With clever aerodynamics which increases the downforce, weight-saving modifications and a new suspension setup. We won’t bore you with what does what in the tweaked recipe but we’ll surely say this – the Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro uses a lot more carbon fibre not just to lower the overall weight but also to increase the rigidity factor.

Pricing hasn’t been announced yet. Expect that to happen around the same time when Mercedes-Benz is ready to ship units of the AMG GT to showrooms across Europe. In India, the Mercedes-AMG GT comes via the CBU route. That means the Indian arm of the German carmaker won’t waste much time to land the updated GT range here.