Putting the new 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster into a Sport+ mode can get you in trouble, and it is hard to resist driving this car fast. Everything about the new Mercedes is great – brake, steering lock and throttle, and it is certainly fun to drive it on winding mountain roads. It can happen once or twice that the tail wiggles, but it is easy to get back into control, and once you press that accelerator pedal, you will be rocketed forward. Driving this car will make you forget about speed limits and the trooper that may be hiding around a corner, and you will experience the true meaning of the word excitement.
Liveliness is perhaps the best term used to describe the new Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster and its steering wheel provides great feedback, while there is a sensuous exhaust note rising from the thick pipes. The design of this car is serious and aggressive, and pretty much like any other vehicle produced by the German manufacturer, beautiful. The traditional and stiff feeling of its big brother SL cannot be found here while this Roadster is ready for Hollywood because you feel special when you sit behind the wheel.
Everything you can see on that body, every line and muscular scoop venting are functional and have a purpose. This convertible is perhaps one of the most beautiful you can find on the market today. The GT Roadster goes against the Porsche 911 Cabriolet and Audi R8 Spyder, which are both striking vehicles, but they are just not as classic and handsome as the Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster. Porsche’s bustle-back cannot be compared to the Mercedes’ elliptical rear end, but tastes differ.
Interior
Inside, you can find identical chromed porthole-shape vents and sweeping trim panels to the ones lesser trims have. What is also the same is the upright infotainment screen which cannot retract, but that doesn’t matter, to be honest. You might take some time to get used to the controls on the large center console, to the gear selector and the slightly unconventional ignition inside the cubby under the armrest.
However, the surfaces are covered with leather which is of high quality, and there is a solid amount of space inside this two-seater. Once the sun starts melting down everything around you, it’s time to put the top up and not only does the roof protect you from the heat, it also makes the cabin a quiet place. And it can be raised/dropped in 11 seconds only.
Once it goes on sale this fall, the GT Roadster will be available in two different versions that will join the Coupe for an attack on rivalry Porsche. Under the Mercedes’ hood is a 4.0-liter bi-turbo V8 engine that produces 469 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque whereas the GT C gets 550 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque from the same unit. The two models are similar on the local and freeway routes, but the C feels slightly quicker than the regular GT Roadster which is quite fast also. The GT and GT C can go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 and 3.7 seconds whereas the top speed of these two supercars is 188 miles and 196 respectively. Both come with a seven-speed dual clutch transmission which offers a rapid response.
The GT C should have an advantage over the GT in terms of fast-twitch handling because of the redesigned suspension, but that is just in theory. It is hard to check this out because other cars used the road on which this model was tested, so it was difficult to get many at-speed handling impressions. Besides the Sport + mode we have mentioned, you can opt for the Comfort mode for a balanced ride. The handling is predictable, and the ride quality is excellent when you are cruising down the streets of posh neighborhoods.
Price
The Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster is just adorable, and you cannot go wrong with this thing of beauty. Even if you buy Porsche 911 or the Audi R8, you will not make a mistake, and the differences between these three cars are tiny, while the choice boils down to your own taste. The starting price of the new GT is around $160,000 whereas the GT C will cost $175,000.
