Mercedes-Benz’s AMG performance car division is putting the finishing touches to a facelifted version of the GT, some four years after the German car maker’s front-engined rear-wheel drive sports car first made its public debut at the 2014 Paris motor show.

The reworked AMG model, spied during tests on public roads in Germany this week, is expected to be unveiled at the upcoming Los Angeles motor show in a move aimed at stealing the limelight from one of its key competitors, the new 2019 model year Porsche 911.

UPDATE: The 2019 AMG GT line-up has been revealed at the 2018 LA motor show. Read the full details

The lightly disguised US-specification prototype pictured here reveals the GT is in line for some subtle styling changes, including a slightly larger 'Panamericana' grille and an altered splitter with additional elements within the leading edge of the front wheel arches.

Further changes include newly designed headlamp graphics, likely incorporating the latest multi-beam functions recently brought to other Mercedes-Benz models. The tail lamps also feature altered graphics as well.

Although the changes to the appearance of the GT are mild, sources at Mercedes-AMG suggest it is in line to receive a number of mechanical upgrades, including a more powerful twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine.

In the least powerful version of the existing GT, the 4.0-litre unit delivers 469bhp. However, the same engine also produces up to 577bhp in the range-topping GT R, indicating there is sufficient scope for power increases across the range.

Nothing is official just yet, though the facelifted version of the base GT model is expected to see a 30bhp increase, taking its reserves up to around 500bhp. Similar increases in the GT S and GT C, should also raise their power output close to 550bhp and 580bhp respectively.

At the top of the line-up, the facelifted GT R is set to adopt wet sump lubrication – a development already seen on the latest E63 S 4Matic. This provides the basis for an increase in power beyond 577bhp of today’s model to somewhere in the region of 610bhp, matching or exceeding the super saloon.

In 2020, AMG is expected to unleash an even more powerful version of the GT with the introduction of a Black Series model. Hinted to by AMG chairman Tobias Moers at the Geneva motor show back in March, it has been conceived to take on the Porsche 911 Turbo S with an expected 650bhp and a number of aerodynamic developments, including a larger fixed rear wing element than that used by the GT R, to increase downforce.

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