Mercedes-AMG GT C: Critics hail 'freakishly good' Roadster

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Mercedes-AMG's GT has been a critical hit since it replaced the company's monstrous gull wing-doored SLS two years ago and the most recent drop-top addition to the line-up is no exception.

The AMG GT C Roadster, a drop-top grand tourer, sits between the racing-inspired GT R and the regular GT.

Muscular wheel arches and a lower ride height separate it from the entry-level GT Roadster, as does a wider track and redesigned front splitter, which directs air towards the rear diffuser to generate more downforce at higher speeds.

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It's powered by the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine from the base GT, although AMG has tweaked it to produce an extra 81bhp and bring the total power output to 550bhp. Consequently, it can go from zero to 62mph in 3.7secs and on to a top speed of 196mph.

Reviews

While Mercedes-AMG may have "tuned more comfort into the range", Evo says the GT C's stiffer suspension makes it feel closer to a sports car than a grand tourer - as the badge would suggest.

The German car giant has tweaked the steering rack to dial out the "hyperactive steering" of early GTs, adds the magazine, resulting in the GT C having "very predictable and intuitive steering that makes the car feel settled and composed rather than flighty".

It also has "massive traction and almost freakishly good body control" and drivers can launch their GT C down a road "almost as quickly as your nerves permit".

Switching the driving mode into "Race" transforms the Roadster into "a proper trackway weapon", says AutoExpress. The gearbox performs well in this mode as well, "auto-blipping on downshifts whenever hard braking is detected".

Flick into the "Comfort" setting and the sharp characteristics of the grand tourer "disappear", improving the ride quality and converting the loud exhaust note into "a potent but distant V8 rumble".

"The boot is bigger than you'd expect, too", adds the magazine, while the amount of standard equipment "is also unusually good for a high-end Mercedes".

Inside, the GT C Roadster "feels spacious", says ArsTechnica, but it isn't significantly bigger than the cabin in Jaguar's F-Type sports car. The only "compromise" the car has is when the roof is in place, as it "does make you feel a bit hemmed in up around your head space".

Those looking to keep track of their lap times at a racing circuit can download Mercedes's "AMG Track Pace" iPhone app, which the site says logs track performance and even records onboard video content.

The AMG GT C Roadster is "available with a three-layer fabric hood that can be raised or lowered in 11secs at vehicle speeds of up to 30mph", says Autocar. The hood can be specced in three different colours and there are more interior colours available than ever.

The Roadster's range of customisable features "broadens the appeal of the GT in the same way that Porsche does so intelligently with the 911", the magazine says, meaning the car can be adapted to a variety of tastes and markets.

Prices and release

Orders are already open for the AMG GT C Roader, with prices starting at £139,445, making it nearly £30,000 more than the entry-level Roadster and only £4,000 less than the hardcore GT R Coupe.