Skip advert
Advertisement

Mercedes-AMG GT R Roadster spied testing

Mercedes-AMG GT R model to go topless next year

Mercedes-AMG has been caught testing a convertible version of its AMG GT R, the marque’s most hardcore, track-focused model. AMG has already offered the standard GT, GT S and GT C  in Roadster forms, so it comes as little surprise to see the marque giving the GT R the same treatment.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Likely to share underpinnings with the GT R hardtop, the manic 4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine should be even more vocal in the Roadster thanks to the lack of metal (or in this case carbonfibre) between the driver and those three exhaust outlets in the rear diffuser. Power should be the same 577bhp as the coupe, with 517lb ft of torque available from as low as 1900rpm.

> Click here for our review of the AMG GT R Coupe

The GT R Roadster will also share the wider bodywork with the coupe, although the subsequent GT C model has also picked up this body, it’s the GT R-aping aero such as the static rear wing and aggressive rear diffuser that point towards this prototype being the R and not a C.

Using the GT C Roadster as reference, we expect the GT R Roadster to gain around 90kg compared to the Coupe, putting the kerb weight at somewhere around 1735kg, a fair amount more than its more carbonfibre-intensive rivals.

As one of the most entertaining AMG models in recent history, the GT R has certainly cemented its place among rivals, but thanks to the very long shadow cast by the Porsche 911 GT3 is sometimes overlooked. Without a Porsche 911 GT3 Cabriolet to compete with though, this makes the GT R Roadster a relatively unique proposition, as only mid-engined rivals like the Lamborghini Huracan Performante Spyder offer a more aggressive and visceral experience for those wanting an open-top performance car.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

2026 BMW 3-series spied, with exhaust pipes
2026 BMW 3-series front
News

2026 BMW 3-series spied, with exhaust pipes

The next 3-series will ring in BMW’s ‘Neue Klasse’ and be electric, hybrid and ICE powered
18 Nov 2024
Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991.2) v Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro – battle of the road-racers
Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991.2) v Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro
Group tests

Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991.2) v Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro – battle of the road-racers

The first AMG GT to wear the Pro badge was the extreme, bewinged GT R Pro. Here's how it stacks up against the 991.2-generation GT3 RS
4 Nov 2024
Hyundai Ioniq 6 N spied – hot electric saloon targets Tesla Model 3
Hyundai Ioniq 6 N prototype front
Spy shots

Hyundai Ioniq 6 N spied – hot electric saloon targets Tesla Model 3

The hot Ioniq 6 N saloon will soon join the excellent Ioniq 5 N in Hyundai’s all electric performance car rebirth, and we’ve spotted it testing
4 Oct 2024
Audi RS5 spied testing: V6 hybrid power and over 500bhp expected
2025 Audi RS5 front side
News

Audi RS5 spied testing: V6 hybrid power and over 500bhp expected

The next Audi RS5 is set to take the place of the RS4 Avant and RS5 Sportback, as Audi’s hot petrol-powered exec
30 Sep 2024
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

From 2025 your new performance car might cost over £5k to tax
Car tax 2025
News

From 2025 your new performance car might cost over £5k to tax

Audi's RS6, Lamborghini Revuelto, Mercedes-AMG GT... any car producing more than 255g/km of C02 will be hit by a rise in vehicle excise duty from Apri…
11 Dec 2024
The BMW M3 is going electric – here’s our first look
Electric BMW M3 test mules
News

The BMW M3 is going electric – here’s our first look

The next M3 supersaloon is receiving a pure-electric powertrain, and new images offer our very first glimpse…
12 Dec 2024
2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed theme announced
McLaren Solus GT
News

2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed theme announced

The theme for the 2025 Festival of Speed will be ‘The Winning Formula – Champions and Challengers’, celebrating motorsport’s innovators from F1’s 75 y…
11 Dec 2024