Cars and Drivers
Mercedes-Benz Shows Off Limited Edition AMG GT R Roadster
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Top speed of 197 miles per hour; zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds; 577 horsepower from a twin-turbo V-8 engine. That must be the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT R coupe. But wait, there’s no top.
That’s because the new 2020 AMG GT R Roadster is a convertible, although in virtually every other way it’s a match for the company’s hardtop version. The new soft top debuted Sunday at the Geneva Auto Show.
The topless version likely will cost somewhat more than the $159,350 base-price coupe because Mercedes-Benz said that it will make just 750 copies of the roadster. Motor Trend magazine reckons a starting price of around $170,000.
The price includes a feature the company calls Airscarf: “The neck-level heating AIRSCARF is standard, making open-air driving a pleasure even in low outside temperatures. The air outlet is seamlessly integrated in the head restraint, where the temperature of the outflowing air can be adjusted in three stages.”
The AMG GT R coupe and roadster both come with six selectable driving modes: Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Individual and RACE. Drivers can even control the sound of the engine: “The exhaust system features two infinitely variable exhaust flaps as standard, which have a direct influence on the sound of the AMG GT R Roadster.” According to the company, the engine sound changes from a low-frequency, typical V-8 sound in the Comfort zones to a more “dynamic” sound in the high-performance modes.
Active rear-wheel steering is also standard on the new roadster. At speeds of up to 62 mph (approximately 100 kilometers per hour), the rear-wheels effectively shorten the car’s wheelbase by turning in the opposite direction from the front wheels. At speeds greater than 62 mph, the rear wheels turn in the same direction, essentially lengthening the wheelbase for improved cornering at higher speed. Mercedes-Benz notes that this feature “also assists the driver in the event of sudden evasive maneuvers and thus enhances active safety.”
Each AMG GT R roadster will be individually numbered with a badge on the center console. Mercedes-Benz did not announce a date for availability of the new roadster, nor did it announce pricing.
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