New Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster: prices, specs and release date

Full UK prices and specifications for the new Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster have been announced just as order books open for the new car. Pricing starts at £110,145 for the standard car, while the faster, more powerful GT C Roadster is priced from £139,445.

The AMG made its public debut at this year’s Paris Motor Show, where initial details were first announced. In terms of design, apart from the roof, it’s broadly similar to its hard-topped sibling, albeit with vertical radiator slats instead of a honeycomb-style grille.

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Further changes are to be found under the bonnet, where the Roadster’s 4.0-litre V8 engine produces 469 or 549bhp in normal and GT C guise respectively. Meanwhile, the AMG Coupe only gets a maximum of 507bhp in S form. The GT C Roadster will also benefit from a wider stance and bigger wheels to help it put the extra power down on the road.

It’s hoped the power boost, along with some extra equipment and upgraded interior details, will persuade buyers to shell out the extra money Mercedes-AMG is asking for the Roadster.

The ‘standard’ AMG GT Roadster’s starting price puts it up against the likes of the Jaguar F-Type Roadster SVR and Porsche 911 Carrera S. Meanwhile, the more powerful GT C Roadster counts the likes of the Audi R8 Spyder and Porsche 911 Turbo and Turbo S cabriolets among its rivals.

Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster design

Aside from a different front end and higher power outputs, the most significant change comes at the rear, where the GT coupe’s vaguely practical hatchback boot makes way for a flat rear deck and saloon-style bootlid. Expect luggage capacity to be significantly compromised by storage space for the fabric roof.

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There’s a flatter rear deck instead of a hatchback-style boot lid and a more steeply rising shoulder line, but the large air vents just behind front wheels remain, as do the sharp creases down the flanks.

Things that have been carried over from the coupe include the slender rear LED lights, the air vents in the rear bumper and the twin trapezoidal exhaust pipes. The Roadster sits on wheels measuring 19 and 20 inches in diameter.

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As mentioned above, there are two versions of the AMG roadster – the standard model and the GT C. The latter not only gets more power, but a slightly more aggressive look. It’s wider, has larger wheels and a wider track (the distance between the wheels), which Mercedes says will help it grip better in corners.

Interior

Again, in terms of design, not much has changed between the coupe and roadster, apart from a significant increase in headroom with the roof down. There’s the same dramatic dashboard that Mercedes insists resembles a wing, with five chrome air vents spread across it.

The centre console, which features the gear selector and most of the buttons and switches for things such as the driving mode selector, rises toward the dashboard from between the driver and passenger.

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The Roadster also gets a lighter-coloured interior, with ‘macchiato beige’ Napa STYLE leather upholstery for the cabin. Buyers will also be able to specify AMG Performance seats, which provide more support under hard cornering. For the first time, these will also be available with Mercedes’ ‘Airscarf’ neck warming system.

There are two stereos available for the Roadster: a ‘standard’ Burmester system and a high-end version from the same brand. Both use the whole interior of the car as a subwoofer to improve sound quality.

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According to Mercedes, the powered roof can be raised and lowered in around 11 seconds and at speeds of up to 31mph.

Engines & performance

There’s just one engine to choose from – a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 – and it comes with either 469bhp (the standard model) or 549bhp (the GT C).

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, with the less powerful version managing 0-62mph in four seconds exactly, while the more powerful will do it in just 3.7 seconds. Top speeds are 188 and 196mph respectively.

CO2 emissions for the GT Roadster and GT C Roadster stand at 219 and 259g/km respectively. This means a road-tax bill of either £295 or £515 a year and fuel economy of 30.4 or 24.7mpg.

Equipment & specification

Buyers get the choice of two trim levels with the GT Roadster – the standard car and the GT C. The entry-level comes with black Napa leather upholstery, a wind deflector and a louder AMG Performance exhaust system. It also gets heated seats fitted with Mercedes’ Airscarf system, which uses vents in the headrests to blow hot air on to the occupants’ necks, allowing the roof to be down even in the winter.

The basic GT is also available with a ‘Premium’ equipment package, priced from £4,195. This is standard on the GT C and adds keyless entry and go, a higher-spec stereo, rear parking sensors and a reversing camera, as well as power-folding door mirrors and AMG-inscribed brushed stainless-steel door sill plates.

Go for the GT C Roadster, however, and you get plenty more equipment as standard. At the front there are 19-inch alloy wheels, while those at the back measure in at 20 inches. Inside, there’s a Burmester surround-sound stereo, parking sensors, a reversing camera and the same heated seats with the Airscarf system as the standard model. You also get an AMG Performance steering wheel, keyless entry and red brake callipers with AMG lettering.

The GT C model also comes with what Mercedes calls Active Air Control, which moves flaps in the front bumper to keep the car more stable at high speeds.

All GTs come with the choice of a black, beige or dark red roof at no extra cost.

Suspension & driving

The standard model comes with non-adjustable AMG Sports suspension, which is completely different to that found on the Coupe, while the GT C Roadster gets something called adaptive ride control. This continuously monitors the driving conditions, speed and road surface and adjusts the suspension accordingly for each wheel.

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Meanwhile, the GT C Roadster also gets active rear-wheel steering. At low speeds (below 62mph) the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the fronts to give a more agile drive. Above that speed, they turn in the same direction as the fronts to make the car more stable.

This is combined with active air management that helps the car to stick to the road at higher speeds.

Price & on-sale date

Orders for the Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster and GT C Roadster are open now. Prices for the standard model start at £110,145, while the GT C Roadster starts at £139,445. Deliveries start at the beginning of 2017.