2020 AMG GT R

requires constant intense time being the wheel in a high-performance machine where claustrophobia could rule. Total cargo space is 10.1 cubic feet. Gas mileage estimates are 15 miles per gallon in city driving, 20 mph on the freeway.

Mercedes-Benz and its high-performance AMG subsidiary are never value-priced. Manufacturer loyalists are well are of the German manufacturer’s heady reputation and longstanding appeal. But the AMG GT R extends pricing well past the already stretched norms.

Carbon fiber is everywhere, including the rear spoiler and roof, and add to the car’s beauty and lightweight appeal. Cornering, braking and all of the driving dynamics that make supercars work so well on racetracks are evident.

For 2020, all AMG GT models get a new 10.3-inch touchscreen, a redesigned center console with capacitive display buttons, standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration. A steering wheel with controls for the engine, drivetrain and chassis settings is also new.

It’s all worthy, and then there’s the AMG GT R’s biggest downfall — a hefty price. The MSRP is $162,900. Option packages, carbon fiber components, comfort elements and the top-scale brake system, add about $33,000. The nearly $196,000 tally is about 2 1/2 times the cost of the new, much-touted Corvette C8. A decision between the two is easy.

One of the car’s marketing mottos: “The Mercedes-AMG GT R combines driving dynamics and first-class racetrack performance with superb everyday practicality.”

Driving dynamics and racetrack worthiness reign, no doubt. But there’s little practical about the powerful machine. It’s as handsome as any vehicle. But the price is off-putting, a deal-breaker despite the AMR GT R’s alluring beauty.

James Raia, a syndicated columnist in Sacramento, publishes a free weekly automotive podcast and electronic newsletter. Sign-ups are available on his website, theweeklydriver.com. He can be reached via email: james@ jamesraia.com.