Photo: Daimler AG
The Beast of the Green Hell is the calling card of the 2017 Mercedes-AMG GT R, and it’s no wonder why. Notwithstanding that awful promo video with Lewis Hamilton driving the GT R while listening to an old Linkin Park song, the GT R is as hardcore as the German coupe can get in road-going form, at least for the time being. But then again, why is there no GT R Roadster out there?
It’s hard to answer that question considering how tight-lipped Affalterbach is on the subject. Some people would say that a ragtop take on the GT R wouldn’t sell well for whatever reason they may come up with. I wouldn’t take that view seriously, though, considering the direction Mercedes-AMG is heading. Also, McLaren chopped the roof off the 675LT Coupe, creating the 675LT Spider. The premise for the GT R Roadster is plausible, alright.
Still, there’s no official confirmation from Mercedes-AMG’s part. Be that as it may, AMG big kahuna Tobias Moers adds fuel to the fire. In an interview with Autoblog on the sidelines of the L.A. Auto Show, Moers said: “I don't know [if the GT R Roadster will happen]. It's just a discussion going on, we talked about it in the company, but I don't know the market potential about that." Oh, Mr. Tobias Moers, but there is a market potential for the GT R Roadster.
As a brief refresher, Mercedes-AMG sold a record 68,875 cars in 2015, an increase of 44.6 percent over 2014. Here’s a line from an investor relations release: “The new and independently developed Mercedes-AMG GT was also very popular with customers.” If I may add this, 2013 saw Mercedes-AMG set a sales target for 2017 of over 30,000 vehicles. Funnily, the go-faster division of Mercedes-Benz finished 2013 with 32,200 vehicles spoken for.
Bottom line is, Mercedes-AMG is definitely weighing in the GT R Roadster and, of course, the perfect timing for the convertible sports car to come to market. If my intuition is correct, 2018 could be the year of the GT R Roadster bearing in mind the GT C Coupe is in the offing for late 2017 according to the Mercedes-Benz Cars and Vans product offensive plan.
Still, there’s no official confirmation from Mercedes-AMG’s part. Be that as it may, AMG big kahuna Tobias Moers adds fuel to the fire. In an interview with Autoblog on the sidelines of the L.A. Auto Show, Moers said: “I don't know [if the GT R Roadster will happen]. It's just a discussion going on, we talked about it in the company, but I don't know the market potential about that." Oh, Mr. Tobias Moers, but there is a market potential for the GT R Roadster.
As a brief refresher, Mercedes-AMG sold a record 68,875 cars in 2015, an increase of 44.6 percent over 2014. Here’s a line from an investor relations release: “The new and independently developed Mercedes-AMG GT was also very popular with customers.” If I may add this, 2013 saw Mercedes-AMG set a sales target for 2017 of over 30,000 vehicles. Funnily, the go-faster division of Mercedes-Benz finished 2013 with 32,200 vehicles spoken for.
Bottom line is, Mercedes-AMG is definitely weighing in the GT R Roadster and, of course, the perfect timing for the convertible sports car to come to market. If my intuition is correct, 2018 could be the year of the GT R Roadster bearing in mind the GT C Coupe is in the offing for late 2017 according to the Mercedes-Benz Cars and Vans product offensive plan.
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