What's the news?
Mercedes-AMG has not only revealed the gorgeous new open-topped GT Roadster, it also unveiled a second variant of it called the GT C Roadster, featuring a 557hp version of the twin-turbocharged V8 engine and chassis trickery borrowed from the hardcore GT R model. We. Are. Stunned. As will the public be when these cars make their world debut at the Paris Motor Show at the end of September.
Exterior
Don't waste time reading these words - browse through the gallery above. The Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster is simply gorgeous, is it not? Back to the facts: that three-layer soft-top opens or closes at the touch of a button in about 11 seconds at speeds of up to 50km/h. It can be finished in beige, red or black and there's a hidden aluminium cross-member underneath carrying rollover bars that deploy if the unthinkable happens.
The Roadster adopts the AMG GT R's new active air management system up front to tweak the cooling air intakes automatically depending on conditions, while the open car also gets the GT R's 'AMG Panamericana' front grille with its distinctive chrome-plated vertical bars. It's complemented by a deeper and restyled front bumper.
The silvery grey version of the Roadster pictured is actually the new Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster, which has a 57mm wider rear end than the standard car thanks to new rear wings. That's to fit the GT R's trick rear axle underneath (more of which in a moment), but it also apparently improves airflow while allowing the fitment of larger wheels and tyres. Both Roadsters have an automatically extending rear spoiler that is integrated into the body work.
Interior
While the interior of the GT Roadster isn't drastically different from that in the AMG GT coupe, it does bring with it a few firsts. The optional AMG 'performance' seats, for example, can now be had with three-stage neck-level heating (called Airscarf by Mercedes) and three-stage seat ventilation. There's also new upholstery to choose from, called 'macchiato beige Exclusive nappa STYLE leather' by its maker - strange capitalisation included.
And if you like your tunes (and you've had enough of the sonorous V8 for some inexplicable reason), there's a high-end Burmester sound system on board, with something that AMG and Burmester developed together called the Externed Coupled Subwoofer (ECS). This, apparently, turns the whole car interior into a bass box.
Mechanicals
It's not often that the mechanicals of a glamorous roadster are more important than the car's appearance, but we'd argue that they are in the case of the GT Roadster, certainly for the surprising new 'C' model. Let's start with the standard car first, and it's hardly a let-down. The Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster is powered by the familiar AMG-built twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine, mounted up front, but well back in the chassis. It produces 476hp and 630Nm of torque, which is sent to the rear wheels via the AMG Speedshift transmission - a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic affair with various modes of operation depending on your mood. There's a mechanical limited slip locking differential on the rear axle too. Mercedes quotes a 302km/h top speed and 0-100km/h in four seconds dead. It also tells us that this Roadster emits 219g/km and uses 9.4 litres of unleaded per 100km, but nobody cares.
Of much more interest is the new GT C Roadster. It has the same basic powertrain, but power has been upped to 557hp and it's available until higher in the rev range, while there's even more torque, 680Nm of the stuff. Unsurprisingly, despite a 65kg weight penalty, the C punches harder, hitting 100km/h in just 3.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 316km/h. You'll forgive it using two litres more fuel every 100km and emitting 40g/km more for that.
But there's more to the GT C than extra straight line oomph. We mentioned the wider rear bodywork above and the GT R's axle. That means the GT C Roadster gets that car's active rear wheel steering system, which should make it even more special to drive. There's also an electronically controlled limited slip differential.
Anything else?
Mercedes-AMG wants its Roadster buyers to enjoy the noise, so there's a variable exhaust system called the AMG 'performance exhaust' that alters the tone depending on driver-selected modes. This is standard on the GT C Roadster and optional on the regular version.