Mercedes-AMG turns GT R into Roadster

Yup, that's right, the most potent two-door coupe version of the big Merc was the fearsome GT R, which was always said to be so track- and driver-focused that it had to be a coupe. But now the company from Affalterbach has decided to supersede the GT C Roadster with this new creation, which will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show.

Just 750 examples of the AMG GT R Roadster will be made and each one will use the 585hp/700Nm iteration of the 4.0-litre biturbo V8 petrol engine used in the GT R Coupe. That means it can do 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds and run on to a top speed of 317km/h, which makes it a tenth of a second and 1km/h quicker outright than the 557hp/680Nm GT C Roadster. Fuel consumption stands at 12.4 litres/100km (22.8mpg) with CO₂ emissions of 284g/km.

Styling-wise, the AMG GT R Roadster has the big, fixed rear wing of the GT R Coupe, plus a larger splitter at the nose, which can extend by 40mm to add another 40kg of downforce to the front axle at 250km/h. LED High Performance headlights will be standard-fit on the GT R Roadster and it has 46mm wider front wings and 57mm wider rear wings when compared to the lesser GT and GT S Roadsters. Lovely 10-spoke AMG Performance forged alloys in matte black reside in the wheel arches and they're mismatched in size for the axles, so the GT R Roadster wears 19-inch rims front and 20s on the rear. Yellow brake callipers denote high-performance brakes. Like any GT Roadster, the R's roof is triple-layered and can be lowered in 11 seconds, even on the move at speeds of up to 50km/h.

Exterior colours amount to 14 in total, the GT R Roadster getting a new shade called designo Graphite Grey Magno matte, while optional carbon-fibre packages drench various bits of the body addenda in the lightweight material. Moving inside, the cabin bears a '1 of 750' plaque on the centre console, while AMG Performance seats come with the Airscarf neck-warming feature and the possibility of full in-seat climate control, meaning you can have fans blowing cool air on your back on sunny, summer days. Otherwise, it's very much as per the AMG GT R Coupe inside, only with a breezier disposition (if you've got the roof down).

Mechanically, the AMG GT R Roadster gains rear-wheel steering (like the GT C twins and the GT R Coupe), an AMG Performance Sports exhausts system for the best possible V8 noises (and it's 6kg lighter than other GT exhausts, thanks to the use of titanium for the rear silencer), a seven-speed AMG Speedshift DCT transmission, six drive modes in the AMG Dynamic Select system, a 'Race Start' function, dynamic engine and transmission mounts to reduce the movement of the drivetrain, AMG coilover suspension with adaptive, adjustable damping, sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres (275/35 ZR19 front, 325/30 ZR20 rear), an electronically controlled limited-slip differential on the rear axle, speed-sensitive AMG Sports steering and composite brakes with 390mm perforated discs on the front axle and 360mm items on the rear. Carbon-ceramic brakes will be an option for the AMG GT R Roadster, which will enlarge the discs to 402mm at the nose of the car.

Anything else?

"The new AMG GT R Roadster is far more than the combination of the thrilling vehicle dynamics of the GT R with the special flair of our GT Roadsters," said Tobias Moers, chairman of Mercedes-AMG. "It is the essence of two worlds, blending to deliver our brand pledge, Driving Performance, in a very special way. With our GT R Roadster, we have without doubt once again developed a brand-defining sports car. It too embodies Mercedes-AMG in form, function and vehicle dynamics and enriches our GT family with a highly exclusive variant limited to 750 units."