The Mercedes-AMG GT R Roadster is the range-topping version of the company's lineup of drop-top sports cars. Based on the AMG GT R coupe, it provides the thrills of a high-performance sports car with the benefits of infinite headroom. First launched for the 2017 model year, the GT Roadster made its debut in base trim, with a GT C model added soon after that. More recently, Mercedes-Benz also launched a GT S Roadster, leaving the GT R the only trim that still needed to go topless. After years of rumors, the AMG GT R Roadster finally made its global debut at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show.

2019 Mercedes-AMG GT R Roadster

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2019 Mercedes-AMG GT R Roadster
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 577 @ 6250
  • Torque: 516 @ 5500
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

2019 Mercedes-AMG GT R Roadster Exterior

- Same design as the coupe - Soft-top - Redesigned deck lid - Same aero features

As expected, the GT R Roadster is identical to the coupe version from the waist down. It has the same dominating AMG grille with chrome vertical slats and a big star emblem in the middle. Down below, the fascia features a built-in lower spoiler with a splitter located right in the middle, while the bigger corner inlets have two horizontal slats that are recessed and help to give the car a more menacing look. The headlamps are identical as well and comes standard with LED lights.

Moving over to the side profile, the same fender vents, and body lines are in place, giving the Roadster a muscular look. Like the coupe version, the corner vents feature gloss black inserts and “V8 Biturbo” lettering. The front is made of carbon-fiber, just like on the coupe, and is 1.8-inches wider compared to the AMG GT and AMG GT S. The widened fenders help make room for the wider track and larger wheels and tires. Toward the back, the aluminium fenders add an extra 2.2 inches of width compared to the AMG GT and AMG GT S Roadster, also to make room for the wider track and the larger 20-inch wheels.

Speaking of wheels, they're identical to the ones on the coupe, featuring the same 10-spoke design and high-sheen rim rings. The brake calipers behind are finished in yellow.

The rear deck area has a similar angle toward the rear, but further forward where the body opens up, it’s flatter - just like we've seen on other Roadster versions of the AMG GT. The rear wing seems identical to the coupe. This is a cool thing to have on a drop-top, even though it doesn’t look as appealing as on a coupe when the soft-top is hidden behind the trunk. But at least it has the aerodynamics. Also, the diffuser is identical too, including the center-mounted exhaust pipes.

The profile also provides a good look at the only feature that makes the Roadster stand out: the fabric soft-top. Made from three different layers of fabric, the roof is lightweight and helps to keep the vehicle’s center of gravity low. The special acoustic mat inserted between the layers helps reduce noise inside the cabin.

Although it mimics the shape of the coupe above the front seats and toward the rear, the soft-top has a distinct shape where it connects with the deck lid. The sloping line of the coupe is gone, with the much more abrupt rear window of the soft-top making room for a longer deck lid. All told, the GT R Roadster isn't as aggressive as the coupe, but its appearance feels a bit more elegant. It's not going to happen, but I'd actually like to see a hard-top version of the GT R with the roof shape of the Roadster model.

Around back, the Roadster features the same wing as the GT R Coupe. Mounted on the trunk lid, it increases downforce on the rear axle. The diffuser is also taken from the coupe and includes the same two-piece diffuser with a large, trapezoidal exhaust pipe in the middle.

Beyond what's immediately visible, the GT R Roadster is a complex machine with loads of aero features. There are Air Curtains on each side of the front apron and the active Airpanel system. The former improves aerodynamics by "calming" the air flow and guiding it to the front wheel arches, while the latter enhances cooling via vertical louvers at the bottom of the front apron. These are opened and closed electronically by an electric motor in around one second.

To celebrate the introduction of the AMG GT R Roadster, Mercedes added a new color to the palette, extending it to a total of 14 choices. The new shade is called Designo Graphite Grey Magno, and it's also available on the coupe version.

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2019 Mercedes-AMG GT R Roadster Interior

- Same design as the coupe - Infinite headroom - Race-spec seats - Loads of AMG-specific features - Premium upholstery

The cool thing about the GT R coupe's interior is that it bridges the gap between the regular AMG GT and the GT3 race car. And all this coolness has been transferred into the GT R Roadster, which also benefits from infinite headroom when the roof is opened.

The cabin looks familiar overall. It has the same wide center stack with round A/C vents; a 10.25-inch infotainment screen placed deep into the dashboard, and the wide center console with buttons placed like the cylinders of a V-8 engine.

It also has the race-inspired AMG seats with integrated headrests, contrast stitching, and "AMG" badges at the top. You can opt between three exclusive upholstery choices, including Nappa leather in Saddle Brown and Black, Macchiato Beige and Black, or Silver Pearl and Black. The carbon-fiber trim around the center stack vents and parts of the center console comes standard.

The instrument cluster is also borrowed from the coupe. The 12.3-inch display provides information on performance, access to the driving modes, and telemetry data.

Moving over to unique features, the Roadster features a center console badge with the inscription "1 to 750." As you might have already guessed, the drop-top is limited to 750 units, and Mercedes-AMG wants you to be aware of that.

Just like the convertible versions of the E-Class and S-Class, the GT R Roadster can be equipped with Airscarf, a the neck-level heating system. This feature adds an air outlet into the head restraint section, which sends air toward the neck so you can drive top-down in colder weather. You can adjust the temperature in three stages.

2019 Mercedes-AMG GT R Roadster Drivetrain

- 4.0-liter V-8 - 577 horsepower - 516 pound-feet of torque - 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds - Top speed at 197 mph - Automatic transmission only

Like the rest of the AMG GT lineup, the R model features the twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8 engine. As the range-topping model, the AMG GT R is also the most powerful, coming with 577 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque on tap. The Roadster hits the street with the same output, sitting above the base GT, the GT S, and the GT C. The later cranks out 549 horsepower and 502 pound-feet, so the R badge adds a healthy 28 horses and 14 pound-feet of twist. Compared to the base GT, the GT R Roadster delivers an extra 108 horsepower and 51 pound-feet of torque.

The extra oomph comes from revised turbochargers with modified compressor machining, increased boost pressure from 1.2 to 1.35 bar, smaller wastegate aneroid capsule, and sharpened engine mapping. Mercedes-AMG also optimized the exhaust ports, modified the compression ratio, retuned the entire combustion process, and updated the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission for quicker shifts.

Not only more powerful the GT R Roadster is quicker too. Charging to 60 mph takes only 3.5 seconds in this car, a tenth-second quicker than the GT C Roadster. On the other hand, the R Roadster is a tenth-second slower than its coupe counterpart, which makes sense given the extra weight. Top speed is rated at 197 mph, one mph more than the GT C Roadster and nine mph more than the GT Roadster. The drop-top is two mph slower than the AMG GT R Coupe.

Moving over to the competition, the Roadster is a bit more powerful than the Porsche 911 Cabriolet. This German sports car features a twin-turbo, 3.0-liter flat-six engine that generates 443 horsepower and 390 pound-feet in Carrera S trim. That's a 34-horsepower and 126 pound-foot deficit. But despite having less power, the 911 Carrera S is just as quick as the GT R Roadster when equipped with all-wheel drive and the Sport Chrono package, needing exactly 3.5 seconds to get there. On the other hand, the non-AWD version needs 3.6 clicks, while the absence of the Sport Chrono package takes the benchmark down to 3.8 seconds, three tenths slower than the AMG GT R Roadster.

The upcoming 911 Turbo will surely trump the Merc in terms of power and acceleration. The outgoing 911 Turbo, for instance, delivers up to 580 horsepower and sprints to 60 mph in less than three seconds. But until the new model arrives, the GT R Roadster has what it takes to give the non-Turbo 911 a run for its money.

2020 Mercedes-AMG GT R Roadster drivetrain specifications



2019 Mercedes-AMG GT R Roadster Prices

There's no word as to how much the GT R Roadster will cost, but it will definitely fetch more than the GT R coupe. Still, we can estimate a sticker based on the price difference between available coupes and roadsters. The AMG GT C Roadster, for instance, starts from $158,850. That's an $11,550 or a 7.8-percent premium over the coupe. With the AMG GT R coupe priced from $159,350, the AMG GT R Roadster should cost at least $172,000 before options.

Production of the range-topping cabriolet will be limited to only 750 units worldwide, so you can expect less than 300 to be sold in the United States.

2019 Mercedes-AMG GT R Roadster Competition

Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet

The Mercedes-AMG GT was conceived as a competitor for the Porsche 911, but with a more traditional layout with the engine in front of the driver. But while the GT R coupe goes against the Porsche 911 GT3, the GT R Roadster doesn't have a full-fledged competitor from Porsche yet. As a result, it's best to compare the AMG GT R to the upcoming 911 Turbo Cabriolet. While the regular 911 is already available, the Turbo won't arrive until later in 2019. An upgraded twin-turbo, 3.8-liter flat-six will probably generate around 570 horsepower in the base model and a bit more than 600 horses in the Turbo S version. Granted, the 911 Turbo isn't as track-oriented as the AMG GT R, but it will definitely be quicker with both variants likely to hit 60 mph in less than three seconds, so at least a tenth-second quicker than the Merc. The 911 Turbo Cabriolet will probably retail from around $180,000, but the Turbo S version will cost more than $200,000.

Read our story on the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet.

Jaguar F-Type

When it comes to two-seat roadsters, the Jaguar F-Type is a cool option that comes with quite a few drivetrain options. Although it's already six years old a bit long in the tooth by modern standards, the F-Type has what it takes to give the AMG GT R Roadster a run for its money. While the track-prepped Project 7 limited-edition model is long gone, the SVR provides plenty of oomph, and it's more than ready to hit the track with blistering performance. The supercharged, 5.0-liter V-8 under its hood cranks out a solid 567 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, which enables it to hit 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. Top speed is rated at 200 mph, the highest of all F-Type models and more than the AMG GT R Roadster. The good news is that the F-Type SVR, fitted with AWD as starts, is notably more affordable, starting from $126,700.

Read our full review of the Jaguar F-Type SVR.

Porsche 911 GT3 Touring Cabriolet

Porsche has yet to offer a convertible version of the track-prepped 911 GT3, but word has it one might be underway for 2020. And it could be called the GT3 Touring Cabriolet and feature the Touring Package that Porsche already offered on the coupe version of the 911 GT3. The main difference, at least according to spy shots, is that the drop-top won't have the GT3's iconic rear wing. It will also feature a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated engine that will probably deliver 500 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. Not only is it less powerful, but the GT3 Touring will also be slower than the AMG GT R Roadster, as the sprint to 60 mph might take 3.9 seconds.

On the other hand, the rear-wheel steering, the track precision app, and the revised aerodynamics will make it a solid competitor on the race track. Unlike the AMG GT R, it will have a manual transmission. Pricing will probably start from around $160,000.

Read our speculative review of the Porsche 911 GT3 Touring Cabriolet.

Conclusion

The AMG GT R Roadster is a very important addition to the AMG GT lineup, as it rounds out the sports car family with the last convertible that was missing. The GT R Roadster also brings the total of AMG GT-badged cars up to 16, a tally that includes five two-door coupes, four roadsters, five four-door coupes, and two customer race cars. That's an impressive lineup that can finally compete with the Porsche 911 range, which already includes more than 20 models. Sure, the AMG GT R Roadster might not be as quick as the 911 Turbo Cabriolet, but it has what it takes to give the 911 GT3 a run for its money on public roads and on the race track.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT R.

Read our full review on the 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT.

Read our full review on the 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster.

Read our full review on the 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster.

Read our full review on the 2018 Mercedes -AMG GT S Roadster.

Read more Mercedes-Benz news.