Mercedes‘ new AMG GT R Roadster (RR) convertible is designed to provide the latest in luxury for motorsports enthusiasts, being limited to 750 units worldwide. The sports car has a triple-layer fabric soft top with a lightweight structure consisting of aluminum, magnesium, and steel that helps to keep center of gravity low. The low gross vehicle weight, aided by the integration of aluminum in the design, is a key factor in the sports car’s performance. More weight advantages come from the standard forged wheels and the titanium rear silencer.
Various aluminum alloys are used in the chassis and body. The weight-optimized spaceframe consists of die-cast and extruded aluminum sections. The body-in-white has an integral aluminum cross member as rollover protection for the occupants. Magnesium is utilized in construction of the front deck (grill). By making the front end of the vehicle lightweight, inertia is reduced and the Roadster’s maneuverability is improved.
The chassis has been modified for optimal cornering capabilities, with the wishbones, steering knuckles, and hub carriers on the front and rear axle being manufactured entirely out of forged aluminum in order to reduce unsprung mass.
According to Mercedes, “The high bending and torsional strength of the entire design enables extreme linear and transverse forces from the drivetrain and suspension to be absorbed and transferred. Unwanted flexibility is reduced, with the vehicle responding precisely and directly. The result is that the driver experiences a sports car with maximum dynamics [and] with outstanding precision.”
Aluminum sidewalls make this model 2.2 inches wider at the rear than its predecessor, the AMG GT, creating room for larger 20 inch tires. Featuring a 577 HP V8 Biturbo engine with a max torque of 516 lbs/ft (available over a wide range of 2100 to 5500 rpm), the car can reach 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and its speed tops out at a healthy 197 mph.
The aluminum crankcase inside the engine is produced using sand casting technology and is part of a closed-deck design. This ensures extreme strength while keeping the weight as low as possible, and allows high injection pressures of up to 140 bar.
“The new AMG GT R Roadster is far more than the combination of the thrilling vehicle dynamics of the GT R with the special flair of our GT Roadsters,” said Tobias Moers, chairman of the management board of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. “With our GT R Roadster we have without doubt once again developed a brand-defining sports car. It too embodies Mercedes-AMG in form, function and vehicle dynamics and enriches our GT family with a highly exclusive variant limited to 750 units.”