Mercedes-AMG is widening its dedicated sports car lineup with the Mercedes-AMG GT S Roadster, bridging the gap between the base GT Roadster and the wide-hipped, rear-axle-steering GT C Roadster. With this open-top two-seater joining the ranks, Affalterbach’s bespoke GT family expands to a total of twelve variants: four two-door Coupes, three Roadsters, two customer sports racers, and three four-door Coupes. The mechanical recipe adheres strictly to AMG’s classic front-mid-engine blueprint: a lightweight aluminum spaceframe, a 4.0-liter hot-inside-V biturbo V8, an AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT seven-speed transaxle gearbox, an electronically governed rear-axle locking differential, and forged aluminum double wishbones at all four corners.
By slotting neatly into the hierarchy, the GT S Roadster offers open-air buyers a focused intermediate step. Where the entry Roadster delivers 476 hp, the GT S dials the 4.0-liter biturbo unit up to 384 kW (522 hp) alongside 670 Nm (494 lb-ft) of torque. That peak twisting force arrives across an exceptionally broad plateau stretching from 1,900 rpm to 5,000 rpm. Against the stopwatch, the sprint from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) takes 3.8 seconds, while flat-out velocity reaches 308 km/h (191 mph). Beyond straight-line numbers, the S model gains critical chassis hardware as standard, most notably electronically adjustable adaptive dampers and an electronic differential, transforming how the chassis rotates into and accelerates out of bends.
Hot Inside V and Front-Mid Transaxle Architecture
Under the expansive bonnet sits the M178 4.0-liter V8, an engine engineered from the ground up for low-slung packaging and instantaneous throttle response. Rather than mounting the twin turbochargers outboard along the cylinder heads, AMG engineers nestled them directly inside the 90-degree cylinder bank. This “hot inside V” configuration yields multiple mechanical dividends. Intake ducting remains exceptionally short, drastically minimizing turbo lag. The engine’s outer dimensions stay remarkably compact, and exhaust routing to the close-coupled catalytic converters allows for rapid light-off and cleaner tailpipe emissions.
Equally critical to the car’s dynamic posture is its dry-sump lubrication system. By dispensing with an external oil pan beneath the crankcase, the entire V8 assembly drops lower in the chassis, pulling the car’s center of gravity toward the road surface. Even under sustained lateral loads exceeding 1g on track, the external oil reservoir and scavenge pumps guarantee an unbroken supply of lubricant. Power feeds rearward through a rigid, torsion-resistant carbon-fiber torque tube that houses the driveshaft, connecting the front-mounted engine directly to the AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed dual-clutch transmission at the rear axle. This front-mid-engine transaxle layout achieves a rear-biased weight distribution of 47 percent front and 53 percent rear, laying the mechanical groundwork for aggressive directional changes and exceptional rear-end traction.
AMG RIDE CONTROL and Dynamic Driving Modes
While the standard entry-level GT Roadster uses a conventional mechanical sports suspension setup, the Mercedes-AMG GT S Roadster arrives factory-fitted with the AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension featuring adaptive damping. This continuously variable, electronically controlled damping system constantly evaluates road surface conditions, steering angle, vehicle velocity, and lateral acceleration. In fractions of a second, valves inside each damper adjust to counteract dive, roll, and harsh road imperfections, balancing track rigidity against everyday compliance.
Through the AMG DYNAMIC SELECT controller, the driver can alter the entire personality of the two-seater across five drive modes: Comfort (C), Sport (S), Sport Plus (S+), RACE, and Individual (I). In Comfort mode, the transmission short-shifts smoothly, exhaust flaps remain subdued, and damper valves stay relaxed for long-distance motorway cruising. Flicking into Sport or Sport Plus progressively sharpens throttle pedal progression, firms up the damper curves, weights the electromechanical speed-sensitive power steering, and loosens the intervention threshold of the 3-stage ESP system. The dedicated RACE mode primes the dual-clutch gearbox for maximum shift speed and maintains elevated engine revs for circuit driving. A separate “M” button on the center console instantly locks the gearbox into full manual control, passing command directly to the steering-wheel-mounted aluminum paddle shifters.
Electronic Rear Differential and Braking Upgrades
Another major technical distinction separating the S model from the base car is the differential. Whereas the standard GT Roadster uses a mechanical limited-slip rear differential, the GT S Roadster incorporates an electronically controlled locking differential neatly integrated into the transaxle housing. The electronic unit operates proactively rather than purely reactively, reading wheel slip, yaw rate, and accelerator input to meter locking torque across the rear axle. Under heavy braking from high speeds, it stabilizes the chassis; mid-corner, it suppresses unwanted inside-wheel spin, allowing the driver to roll into the throttle far earlier on corner exit. Additional cooling fins cast into the differential housing ensure thermal endurance during repeated hard laps.
To match the added firepower of the 522-hp biturbo engine, AMG upgraded the composite brake package. Up front, internally ventilated and perforated composite discs measure 390 x 36 mm, clamped down by sturdy six-piston fixed calipers finished in red with bold AMG branding. The rear axle utilizes 360 x 26 mm composite discs grabbed by single-piston floating calipers. For drivers intending to subject the Roadster to prolonged track sessions, AMG offers an optional high-performance ceramic composite braking system. This motorsport-derived setup enlarges the front carbon-ceramic rotors to 402 x 39 mm and the rears to 360 x 32 mm, paired with specially painted calipers stamped with “AMG Carbon Ceramic.” Aside from near-complete fade resistance under punishing thermal cycles, the ceramic system shaves roughly 40 percent of unsprung mass from the wheel assemblies, directly sharpening steering feel and suspension compliance.
Lightweight Body Structure and Three-Layer Fabric Soft Top
Structural rigidity is the foundation of any serious open-top performance car, and Affalterbach opted for an intelligent lightweight material mix dominated by aluminum alloys. The chassis tub and outer body panels are formed from lightweight aluminum, while the front deck assembly uses an ultra-light magnesium casting. Shedding weight ahead of the front axle directly reduces polar moment of inertia, allowing the nose to dart into apexes with minimal hesitation. The rear boot lid structure employs Sheet Moulding Compound (SMC), a high-tech composite engineered jointly by the Mercedes-Benz TEC factory in Sindelfingen and AMG specialists in Affalterbach, delivering high tensile strength alongside class-leading surface quality.
The folding roof itself is an engineering centerpiece designed to protect the vehicle’s low center of gravity. Constructed around a lightweight skeleton combining magnesium, steel, and aluminum, the three-layered fabric soft top operates automatically via an electrohydraulic mechanism. An integrated acoustic mat layered within the fabric dampens wind and road noise when cruising, while a structural aluminum cross-member positioned behind the seats provides certified rollover protection. With the roof closed, the car maintains an elegant, sweeping coupe-like profile, accentuating the long powerdome hood and cab-backward proportions.
Active Aerodynamics: AIRPANEL and Extendable Rear Wing
Aerodynamic efficiency on the AMG GT S Roadster is handled through active mechanical components borrowed directly from motorsport. Anchoring the nose is the AIRPANEL active air regulation system, integrated low within the front apron. A series of vertical louvers operated by a fast electric motor can fully open or close in approximately one second. During normal driving conditions where cooling demands are moderate, the louvers remain tightly shut, smoothing airflow, reducing aerodynamic drag, and channeling air straight beneath the flat underbody. Only when engine coolant, transmission oil, or charge-air temperatures surpass strict operational limits do the vertical slats swing open, flooding the radiator banks with cool ambient air.
At the rear, the sculpted tail end houses an electronically controlled extendable spoiler. Deployed automatically depending on vehicle road speed and selected drive program, the wing extends outward to generate decisive downforce over the rear axle, keeping the tail planted during high-speed lane changes and high-load bends. When retracted at lower speeds, the spoiler sits completely flush with the sweeping contour of the rear decklid, preserving the car’s clean lines.
Cockpit Ergonomics and Open-Air Comfort
Inside the cabin, the dashboard emphasizes lateral width, shaped like a powerful aeronautical wing flanked by circular climate vents reminiscent of aircraft turbines. High door beltlines, sculpted concave interior door cards, and a rising center console cradle both occupants low in the tub, giving the driver an immediate, intimate connection to the chassis. The standard AMG sports seats are trimmed in black ARTICO man-made leather paired with DINAMICA microfiber, with contrasting stitching and fine leather appointments available across multiple custom palettes.
Open-air usability extends well beyond warm summer afternoons thanks to Mercedes’ patented AIRSCARF neck-level heating system. Available on both the standard sports seats and the deeply bolstered AMG Performance seats, AIRSCARF blows warm, regulated air through discreet vents positioned directly beneath the head restraints. With three selectable temperature stages, occupants can drive roof-down on crisp autumn mornings or cool mountain passes in complete comfort. For hotter climates, multi-stage seat ventilation pulls heat and moisture away from seat contact surfaces, ensuring fatigue-free grand touring regardless of outside weather.
Customization Packages and Dynamic Plus Option
As standard, the Mercedes-AMG GT S Roadster rolls on 10-spoke light-alloy wheels finished in vanadium silver, sized 9J x 19 inches with 255/35 R 19 tires at the front, and 11J x 19 inches with 295/35 R 19 rubber at the rear. Owners looking for a staggered 19-inch front and 20-inch rear setup can specify 5-twin-spoke wheels or ultra-lightweight forged cross-spoke wheels with integrated center caps, wrapped in 265/35 R 19 front and 295/30 R 20 rear performance tires.
For drivers focused purely on razor-sharp vehicle dynamics, the optional AMG DYNAMIC PLUS package adds dynamic engine and transmission mounts that automatically stiffen under aggressive cornering to isolate powertrain inertia from the chassis. The package also incorporates a firmer suspension tune, a specialized variable steering calibration, and sharper engine mapping. In conjunction with the Dynamic Plus package, buyers can also specify AMG active rear-axle steering. Below 100 km/h, the rear wheels steer in the opposite direction to the fronts by up to 1.5 degrees, effectively shortening the wheelbase for nimble maneuvering in tight corners. Above 100 km/h, the rear wheels turn in phase with the front wheels, virtually stretching the wheelbase for rock-solid stability during high-speed directional changes.
Exterior styling can be tailored through three distinct appearance packages. The AMG Exterior Carbon-Fibre package dresses the front splitter, exterior mirror caps, and rear diffuser in bare carbon-fiber, matching high-gloss black air inlets and carbon fins on the front wings. The AMG Exterior Night package delivers a brooding monochrome appearance, cloaking the splitter, mirror housings, hood louvers, front fender fins, and dual exhaust tips in deep high-gloss black. Conversely, the AMG Chrome package highlights the front splitter, fender wing inserts, and rear diffuser with high-gloss chrome accents, allowing each owner to define their roadster’s balance of motorsport aggression and grand touring elegance.
Vehicle data
| Make | Mercedes-AMG |
| Model | GT S Roadster |
| Generation / chassis code | C190 / R190 |
| Model year(s) covered | 2018–2019 |
| Body style | Two-door, two-seat roadster (fabric soft top) |
| Powertrain / engine | 4.0-liter (3,982 cc) twin-turbocharged V8 (M178) |
| Power / torque | 384 kW (522 hp) @ 6,250 rpm / 670 Nm (494 lb-ft) @ 1,900–5,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 7-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT dual-clutch transaxle |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive (front-mid engine, transaxle layout) |
| Key performance figures | 0–100 km/h: 3.8 s; Top speed: 308 km/h (191 mph) |
| Price (as stated) | Not stated in sources |
| On-sale / announcement period | May 2018 |
| Market | Global / Europe / North America |