Thursday 25th August 2016

Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster spied testing (new pics)

Fresh Nurburgring images show off a canvas roof; it looks quick too!

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So, as expected, the drop-top AMG GT will use a canvas roof and not a folding hard top like the larger SL. Fabric roofs are common in the segment of course, with the Audi R8 Spyder and Jaguar F-Type SVR also using them.

Committed!

Aside from the confirming what we had thought about the roof - a significant update, granted - there's little else to reveal right now. The styling is familiar AMG GT but with a reprofiled rear to accommodate the roof. Even when disguised, the profile appears to work well, a more compact fabric roof preventing any unsightly bulges around the roof or boot. A pop-up spoiler is still integrated as well.

You can read more below on what to expect from the AMG GT C, with a full reveal due later this year. Prices and specs to follow nearer the time. Can it successfully combine the coupe's driver focus with some open-air theatre? It could make quite the sports car if so.

 

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Mercedes-AMG will finally satisfy those longing to hear the raw bellow of the loud 'n' proud GT coupe later this year with the launch of the GT Roadster. And, just to remind us the curiously overdue open-top variant is still a real living thing, the engineers have been out completing final sign-off duties on a US version of the soft-top Merc.

Can we see it roof down soon please?

Yes, soft-top. No folding hard-top here, something that seemed like a good idea for all of five minutes in the noughties before common sense dawned. And because it's a nice compact fabric roof, it means the AMG GT Roadster's going to have a balanced look with the roof up and a nicely substantial flat rear deck a la classic 190 SL and pre-R129-era SL.

Whereas the coop goes all the way to Lewis-Hamilton-approved, R-branded aggression, the Roadster should take a more refined approach, befitting its likely cruiser status. But, yes, with all of the AMG V8's roar still in place. Needless to say, both 462hp and 510hp S iterations of the 4.0-litre Affalterbach motor will feature, and needless to say most will default to the S, certainly until Merc rolls out the 585hp AMG GT R-engined version next year. Said to be called GT C, maybe it'll be newly-contracted Nico that gets to launch that one.

Our eye's been caught by something, though: that big gap between the rear lights, complete with seemingly-shapely innards. Now, the Coupe gets a monster deployable rear wing, but such a thing would spoil the lines of this elegant soft-top. Cue Aston Martin, in which Daimler has a five per cent shareholding. On the imminent DB11, it's installed a clever 'AeroBlade' that draws air from the sides and shoots it out in a jet from the rear - a virtual spoiler, if you like. The tech transfer has been one-way up to now; is this Aston giving something back to its new German colleagues?

Expect the same choice of V8s as the coupe

The fact that the front wing vents now appear to be enclosed, directional air outlets, rather than the open items on the Coupe, is also intriguing. This could just be the wrap guy getting carried away, but it could, just as Aston's done with the DB11, also point to more hidden aero work beneath to keep the lines as pure as possible - and we know AMG boss Tobias Moers has told us in the past he likes to keep the lines of his cars simple and clean. Decidedly anti-spoiler, is Moers.

No prizes for guessing it'll be heavier than the Coupe, although as that itself isn't too lardy at 1,645kg, maybe the similarly aluminium-intensive AMG GT Roadster will be on the acceptable end of substantial as well.

Prices? Ballpark £110,000 and £120,000, with the usual average UK wage or two on top for options and personalisation. And, as this is a US-spec car, shall we put bets on it being revealed at the LA Auto Show in November?

[Photos: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien]

 

[sidesauce]

I expect the hood will be a variation/development of the one used in the S-Class Cabriolet (that car has great refinement with the roof up apparently).

I'm sure I remember reading somewhere that Daimler want to return the SL to a fabric roof but there's concern that doing may spoil the already reduced sales of that model as it's the USP of that class of car at that price point...?

[sidesauce]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Looks like a Lexus SC430 to me!!

Hmmm...

In terms of general proportion (even from that angle it's obvious the AMG is significantly wider), glasshouse silhouette, front end, back end, no, not really.