Mercedes-AMG Unveils GT R Roadster

For those who thought the "Beast of the Green Hell" was a little too claustrophobic, this one's for you. Mercedes-AMG has unveiled the AMG GT R Roadster, which is in essence an open-top version of the most sharp-edged vehicle in the Mercedes-AMG range. There will only ever be 750 units produced, with the same 4.0-litre V8 biturbo powertrain as the "run of the mill" GT R Coupe.

That's 585 hp and 700 Nm of torque at your disposal with a drop top roof. That torque is available from as low as 2,100 rpm and up to 5,500 rpm, making it the perfect dual-characteristic engine for cruising or on-track-attacks. The century sprint is done in just 3.6 seconds, with a top speed of 317 km/h - not that you'd really want to find VMax with the top down. The top itself is ultra lightweight with aluminium, magnesium, and steel construction for rigidity.

The rear wing is non-negotiable, but adjustable depending on how much downforce you want at the rear. The front features active aero tucked away to increase front end downforce and keep that steering feel nice and tight as you negotiate bends at blistering speeds. Being a roadster, you can bet that there's the Airscarf feature that blows nice hot air on occupants' necks to fight the wind chill.

All the neat little features like the rear wheel steering and adjustable stability and traction control systems are present in the roadster as well, which is a nice dichotomy between the elegance of open air motoring and the technological tour-de-force that is the GT R. The interior is ported over as well, AMG displays, steering wheels, paddle shifters and all. Carbon is employed generously to keep weights low without compromising chassis integrity.

The penalty for this fabric top roof? A mere 80 kilograms - which may be a big deal if we were talking about a bare bones light-weight pure track machine, but over a total kerb weight that stands at around 1,600 kilograms, it isn't that big of a deal. Granted there will be differences in noise levels and overall insulation, but that's the price that roadster owners are happy to pay for the benefit of an open top.