But they already have the SL…
True, Mercedes-Benz may already have the open-top SL sitting in its model lineup. But that hasn’t stopped them from making a roadster version of the GT sports car.
What you see here in official pictures before its world premiere in Paris later this month is the Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster.
As its badge indicates, the GT Roadster has been developed by the AMG boys. And although the GT Roadster is a two-seater like the SL, it gets a soft-top rather than folding hard-top.
I see. Does it get the same engine as the coupe?
Yes it does. The GT Roadster gets AMG’s latest 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission driving the rear wheels.
But the outputs are slightly different. The regular GT Roadster produces 476hp against the 462hp rating of the GT Coupe. But the 0-100kph acceleration is the same at 4.0sec.
It gets even more different with the go-faster Roadster called GT C which develops 557hp against the 510hp figure of the GT S Coupe. The GT C has a 3.7sec time – 0.1sec quicker than the GT S.
Is there a GT R version for the Roadster?
No there isn’t one yet. The GT R – with 585hp of power and a 3.6sec 0-100kph time – is still only available for the coupe.
Speaking of the GT R, the GT Roadster gets the same vertically slatted front grille as that hot rod. As well, the GT C is distinguished from the normal GT with wider tracks and bigger wheels.
Expect the GT Roadster to command a slight price premium over the fixed-top sibling, which goes for 15 million baht in Thailand in GT S form. First deliveries of the GT Roadster in right-hand-drive are expected to get underway just before mid-2017.