Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster spied testing (new pics)
Fresh Nurburgring images show off a canvas roof; it looks quick too!
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.
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?
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]
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...?
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