2018 Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster: The New In-your-face Roadster from the Three-pointed Star

PHOENIX, Arizona – Make no mistake about it. The 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster is now the in-your-face “bad boy” in the Mercedes-Benz stable of roadsters. Next to it, the slightly more powerful AMG SL 63 looks like a cute kitten purring softly. Whereas the SL exudes class and sophistication, the GT C Roadster is all about performance and making sure everybody knows who’s who and what’s what.

Its styling borrows heavily from the uber-cool Mercedes-AMG GT R Coupe, with the same A-shaped Panamericana grille inspired by the 300SL Gullwing race car that won the Carrera Panamericana race through Mexico back in 1952, and the GT C Roadster definitely has a much stronger presence than the SL. Also, the rear is low and wide and has Kim Kardashian written all over it… Just kidding.

• Also: 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT R: Green Car of the Year?
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Fire up the twin-turbo, 4.0-litre V8 and listen to it come alive with a deep basso rumble that warns onlookers that something wicked is coming their way. The GT C Roadster packs 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque, all delivered to massive 305/30R20 Michelin Pilot Sport tires mounted on 20-inch rear alloys through a seven-speed, dual-clutch gearbox. Under full power, it will hit 100 km/h in a scant 3.7 seconds. Not as fast as a Porsche 911 Turbo, but close.

What’s most amazing about the GT C Roadster is the way in which all that power is delivered. Maximum torque comes on early at 1900 rpm, and stays constant all the way to 5750 rpm. The result is that this car pulls like a freight train, with a seamless surge of power, thanks to the rapid-fire gear changes of the transmission. It also sounds great while doing it, although not quite as enthralling as that of a Jaguar F-TYPE SVR. After all, this is a German car. It’s powerful, but doesn’t brag so much about it.

The 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster tips the scales at 1735 kilograms and weight distribution is skewed to the rear, as 53.89% of the car’s mass rests on the rear axle and 46.11% on the front. Take note of those numbers. No rounding to 54 and 46. That would not be German. This kind of balance is one of the reasons why the GT C Roadster is so entertaining to drive in a series of corners.

The other is that this car has a rear-wheel steer system. It actually turns the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the front if the car’s speed is below 100 km/h, and in the same direction as the front when the speed is above 100. The end result is that the car turns in and tracks very well in slow corners, while remaining very stable during high-speed lateral transitions. Like quick lane changes under power to pass slower traffic that is instantly banished to oblivion in the GT C’s rearview mirror.

With the three-layer soft top in place, the cabin is relatively quiet except, of course, under full power. Switchgear and controls are well laid out, but the dash and centre console protrude into passenger space and the shifter is set too far back. Also, the look of the instrument panel is old-school and does not innovate in any way. In this regard, the Audi virtual cockpit, available in the Audi R8 as well as more conventional models, is way more advanced and really in a league of its own.

The Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster will arrive in Canadian dealerships in the summer of 2017 as a 2018 model. No word yet on pricing, but expect its MSRP to hover around $180,000 and, as always, you can reach a much higher dollar figure by tacking on options like the AMG Track Package, which includes active engine mounts and a firmer sport suspension. There’s also the AMG Night Package or AMG Exterior Carbon Trim with various design elements done up in black or, you guessed it, carbon fibre. Also available are the sure-to-be-pricey Edition 50 Exclusive models created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of AMG.

Is there more to come? Well, given that the AMG GT Coupe is available in four variants—base, S, C and R—it is entirely possible that AMG just might develop an even more powerful and capable R model to top the Roadster range. I guess it’s only a matter of time…