Mercedes unveils 750-unit AMG GT R Roadster

Mercedes will release just 750 units of the new AMG GT R roadster, which is designed to be equally at home on the track or a meandering coastal road.

Boasting 585 bhp, a top speed of 197 mph, and the ability to sprint from zero to 62 mph in just 3.6 seconds, the GT R combines all the top-end grunt expected of Mercedes’ performance brand.

But the GT R is about more than just brute force. With its sleek, arrow-like appearance – courtesy of a low-slung front section and a striking, AMG-specific grille – the highly exclusive roadster is also beautifully formed.

The exterior design isn’t just for show, though. The GT R sports an active aerodynamics profile intended to deliver more precise handling and to keep the car glued to the road.

Much of this driveability is down to an almost invisible carbon fibre element hidden away in the underbody, just in front of the engine. Depending on speed and drive programme, this element – which weighs just 2 kg – extends downward up to 40 mm, dramatically changing the airflow beneath the car and effectively sucking it onto the road surface.

Mercedes says the GT R’s combination of power and expressive design is all about reaching out to new audiences – specifically, a lifestyle-oriented customer who wants to “live life to the full”.

Tobias Moers, chairman of the management board of Mercedes-AMG, insists that the new release is far more than just a combination of flair and special vehicle dynamics.

“It is the essence of two worlds, blending to deliver our brand pledge, ‘Driving Performance’, in a very special way,” he explains.

“With our GT R Roadster we have without doubt once again developed a brand-defining sports car. It too embodies Mercedes-AMG in form, function and vehicle dynamics and enriches our GT family with a highly exclusive variant.”