Rumors of a topless Mercedes-AMG GT have been circulating around the auto industry since the coupe model broke cover a couple of years ago. They are finally about to materialize, and AMG has published a dark teaser video that previews a brand new convertible.
The video confirms the model’s existence, but that is about it. However, an earlier report sheds insight into what we might see during the Paris show.
AMG may have prepared two different versions of the GT convertible. The first model will adopt the GT Roadster name, meaning it will essentially be a topless version of the GT. It will use a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine tuned to churn out 456 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 443 pound-feet of torque between 1,600 and 5,000 rpm. The GT coupe hits 60 mph from a stop in 3.9 seconds, but the roadster should take about 4.1 seconds because it will be a little bit heavier.
The second version of the Roadster will be an entirely new model dubbed GT C Roadster that will be positioned between the GT S and the race-ready, limited-edition GT R that made its debut a few weeks ago. Power will come from an evolution of the standard GT’s V8 tweaked to make about 540 horsepower, so it should be as fast — if not faster — than the GT S coupe.
Both GT Roadster variants will use a conventional fabric soft top. That is because a cloth top is much lighter than a folding hard top and engineers were asked to make the roadster conversion as weight-neutral as possible. A cloth soft top will also help Mercedes differentiate the GT Roadster from the SL, which will share the same price bracket.
Teaser aside, Mercedes-AMG has not announced what it will reveal in Paris. We will find out more information in the coming weeks.
