2020 Mercedes-AMG GT R Roadster Road Test and Review

2020 Mercedes AMG GTR Roadster hero ・ Photo by Mercedes-AMG

This isn’t the Mercedes-AMG One. That car, which is finally nearing the road after a few years of anticipation, will be a mid-engine hybrid with over 1,000 horsepower, promised 0-60 performance of about 2 seconds, and a top speed of 217 mph. Only 275 will be built and they’re already sold, costing nearly $3 million each. Jeff Bezos probably bought two.

Until that hypercar hits the street, the pinnacle of Mercedes two-seat performance is this AMG GT R. It’s a front-engine supercar with carbon fiber body panels, rear-wheel drive, twin turbos, and 577 horsepower. Top speed? About 200 mph. Price? Less than $200,000. It’s a bona fide thrill ride, but it’s also luxurious and comfortable enough to be driven every day. It’s a special machine destined to be an instant classic.

Front Engine Coupe or Convertible

Unlike the majority of its rivals — including the Audi R8, Lamborghini Huracan, and Ferrari F8 Tributo — the 2020 Mercedes AMG GT isn’t a mid-engine machine. Its engine is up at the front, underneath its impossibly long hood. The more traditional layout helps increase interior space and allows the supercar to have a sizeable trunk.

Three distinct models are available: GT, GT C, and GT R, which is Mercedes’ most powerful and most expensive two-seater. All three models come in two body styles: a coupe with a sexy fastback design and a soft-top convertible like our GT-R Roadster test car. The droptop costs about $26,000 more than the coupe, but it’s still a bargain as far as supercars go. Its base price was $191,745 includes a $1,000 gas-guzzler tax and the $995 destination fee. With a considerable list of options, including a $9,900 coat of Solarbeam Yellow Metallic and a set of $500 matching seatbelts, our test car cost $216,240.

Photo by Mercedes-AMG

Big Visual Impact

Don’t buy this car unless you like to talk to your neighbors or strangers at gas stations. Everyone asks about it. How much does it cost? How fast will it go? People in other cars give you the thumbs-up. Teenagers whip out their phones and take pictures of it.

Like previous supercars from Mercedes, including the legendary 300 SL Gullwing and the more recent SLS, the Mercedes-AMG GT R Roadster looks imposing, powerful, and expensive. It has presence and an unmistakable muscularity, but there is also an understated elegance, sophistication, and simplicity to its design. Mid-engine designs are all the rage, but the AMG’s long hood and exaggerated proportions stop people midstride, drop their jaws, and widen their eyes. The GT R’s massive rear spoiler — constructed from carbon fiber to save weight — is also an eye-catcher, and Mercedes has widened its rear bodywork 2.2 inches to fit larger wheels and tires for more traction.

Photo by Mercedes-AMG

Twin-Turbo V8 Power and Roar

Built in Germany, the 2020 Mercedes AMG GT R is powered by a sophisticated handbuilt, all-aluminum double overhead cam 4.0-liter V8 engine with two turbochargers. The fast-revving engine is a masterstroke of engineering, with massive amounts of low-end torque, a 7,000-rpm redline, and the greatest V8 rumble since man invented internal combustion.

All models are also equipped with a quick-shifting dual-clutch seven-speed automatic transmission, which is mounted in the rear of the car to improve its weight balance and response. Although all-wheel drive is standard on many of its rivals and many of AMG’s high-performance sedans and SUVs, it isn’t available on the AMG GT R. This high-performance monster is rear-wheel drive.

Photo by Mercedes-AMG

Fast, Firm, Fun, and Friendly

Mercedes says every version of the AMG GT can accelerate to 60 mph in under 3.8 seconds, and the 577 horsepower AMG GT R Roadster leads the pack with a 3.5-second performance. That kind of thrust will pin your ears back. Still, this isn’t the most powerful or the quickest car in its class. Not by a longshot. Most of its competitors outgun the AMG GT R, including the 640-hp, all-wheel drive Porsche 911 Turbo S — which hits 60 mph in 2.6 seconds.

This car has much more of an edge than most other Mercedes-Benz models — or even most AMGs. For the serious enthusiast, it’s absolutely comfortable enough to be driven every day or even cross-country, but look elsewhere if you’re shopping for a smooth ride, quiet interior, and pillowy seats. This car is for people that love to drive, a small group of enthusiasts who want to hear and feel every aspect of the car. Casual car lovers will be happier in a Mercedes-Benz SL.

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Serious Performance

This car is an adrenaline rush on wheels, a thrill machine with incredible power, an intoxicating roar, and the ability to change direction like it’s Gorilla Glued to the road. Its steering is quick but not darty, and its seven-speed automatic transmission chooses gears wisely and responds quickly when you use its steering-wheel-mounted the paddle shifters.

AMG Dynamic Select allows you to choose between four modes, which include Comfort, Sport, and Sport+, to tune the supercar’s dynamics for the driving environment or your mood. Each setting manipulates its throttle response, suspension, stability control, and exhaust volume. Sport+ is perfect for that Sunday morning run through the hills, while Sport mode is an everyday sweet spot that keeps the transmission and the engine synced with a performance driver.

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Surprising Fuel Economy

Despite its awesome horsepower and acceleration, drive it with a light foot and the 2020 Mercedes AMG GT R Roadster can be respectably fuel-efficient. The EPA rates the standard GT Coupe and Roadster at 16 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway, while the more powerful GT R models are rated at 15 mpg city and 20 mpg highway.

During a week of lead-footed mixed driving around Los Angeles, we averaged 16.2 mpg. But you can do better. That calculation includes an early-morning high-speed run through the world-famous hills above Malibu, and several thrill rides given to family and friends. Such shenanigans don’t promote fuel economy. However, when driving around the city, we did utilize the engine’s start/stop technology, which shuts off the engine at idle to save fuel.

Photo by Mercedes-AMG

Beautiful Interior

Build quality inside the 2020 Mercedes AMG GT R is extremely high. The materials are impressive, and the dash is futuristic with a bank of four round air conditioning vents, a large 10.25-inch infotainment screen, and a covering of carbon fiber. All controls are easy to find and understand, and despite the wide console, there’s room to stretch out. This year, Mercedes has installed a fully digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster and redesigned some of the supercar’s switchgear, adding AMG Drive Unit controls to the steering wheel. Even more importantly, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard.

Its firm seats are comfortable and fit the attitude of the car. We were also impressed by the calm of the interior with the top folded away. There’s no buffeting, even over 100 mph. Our only complaint is the AMG’s outward visibility. A low seating position, thick pillars, large mirrors, and high beltline make the Mercedes harder to see out of than a Sherman tank. However, sensors in the supercar’s bumpers and front and rear cameras make parking this beast less stressful than you would think.

Photo by Mercedes-AMG

Pack Light

Unfortunately, interior storage is an issue. There’s only a small console bin, and the AMG GT R's door pockets are so small they’re useless. The only place to conveniently throw your wallet and cellphone is one of the GT R’s two sizable cupholders, which are located ahead of its shifter on the center console. Unfortunately, they’re placed very close to the dashboard, so tall fast food drinks can block the air conditioning and other controls.

The AMG’s 10.1 cubic feet of trunk space is more than we expected, but large hard luggage will not fit. Pack light and it can swallow enough soft luggage for a weeklong road trip for two.

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My Two Favorite Features

The might of the AMG’s engine is only matched by the fortitude of its massive carbon composite brakes, which features rotors the size of manhole covers and calipers bigger than your arm. This car stops.

But the supercar’s best feature is its Airscarf ventilated headrests. Vents in the GT R’s seats, just below the headrests, blow warm air on the nape of your neck and shoulders. Combine Airscrarf with the AMG’s heated seats and you could comfortably drive this convertible flat-out through Montana with the top down in January. Airscarf isn’t unique to the AMG GT R Roadster, though; Mercedes also uses it in the SL, and BMW has a similar system. It’s a luxury every convertible should offer.

Photo by Mercedes-AMG

Final Thoughts

When a neighbor asked us what it’s like to drive the AMG GT R, we paused for a moment, unsure what to say. “It’s fast” seemed too obvious. “It’s fun” would be too prosaic. “It’s a serious hot rod,” we said finally, to his satisfaction. It’s also an ego trip. Owning a 2020 Mercedes-AMG GT R Roadster is joining a very exclusive club. Just 750 are being built and distributed globally. Unless your local Cars and Coffee is at the Starbucks in downtown Dubai, you probably won’t see another one.

Overall, this is a true supercar that can be enjoyed every day of the week. It’s as at home in rush hour as it is on the race track. If you’re in the market for a sexy high-performance convertible, it’s a very desirable choice.

Photo by Mercedes-AMG