There is limited availability. Unlimited headroom.
Mercedes-AMG finally unveils its roadster counterpart, nearly three years after launching the GT R Coupe. The new Affalterbach droptop offers the same performance as its fixed-roof counterpart.
The GT R Roadster, just like McLaren’s supercars that don’t lose much power when changing from coupe to coupe, is as fast as the coupe in sprinting between 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h). The task takes only three-and-a-half seconds, despite both having to do it in just three and a quarter seconds. The convertible version loses only 1 mph at top speed and can reach a respectable 317 kph (197 mph). This is not noticeable, but you might notice it.
The Mercedes-AMG GT R Roadster’s heart is the familiar twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V8 that produces 577 horsepower and a generous 516 pound-feet (706 Newton-meters), of torque. This is just like the coupe. Which is not surprising. The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, which is also inherited from the regular GT R, has a shorter first gear and a faster seventh gear for acceleration.
To make the roadster more agile, the coupe’s rear wheel-steering system was implemented in it. The rear wheels are oriented in the opposite direction to the front at speeds up to 62 mph (100 km/h). This makes the roadster easier to turn when cornering. To increase stability and speed up the change of direction, the rear wheels will turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels.
The coupe is still in production almost three years after its launch. However, it is highly unlikely that the roadster will follow the same pattern. Mercedes only makes 750 of these cars worldwide. The GT R Roadster will come with a matte gray roof finish. There are two carbon fiber packages available to spice things up.
Although pricing details are not known, the roadster is sure to be more expensive than the coupe starting at $159,350 in the United States. The new GT R Roadster from Mercedes-AMG will be on display at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show.
We already know that a Black Series roadster is being developed.