While initial reports indicated towards a 2018 introduction of the Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster, it seems that the manufacturer will offer it for sale starting next year.

Mercedes-AMG chairman, Tobias Moers, confimed the news to AutoExpress, speaking about the soft-top version at the launch of the GT R where he said that it could show up by the end of this year.

The convertible has moved well beyond the drawing board. It will be the next AMG GT model to arrive“, Moers said, who isn’t concerned that a drop-top variant of the AMG GT would cannibalize the SL, as he sees it as a grand tourer, while “this will absolutely be a proper sports car“.

Modifying the AMG GT in order to cope with the chopped roof won’t dramatically affect the handling, as this will still be “a sharp driver’s car”, and the suspension won’t require any major changes over the hardtop version either. Word on the street has it that keeping its weight down means using a cloth roof instead of a folding metal hardtop and the sports car will probably follow the same path as the Coupe, as it is believed to go on sale as a GT and a GT S.

Mercedes-AMG will not end the development of its GT family once the GT Roadster will show its face, as an even more powerful range-topper, which will probably wear the Black Series moniker, is expected to be introduced in 2018, while the lineup might be closed by a possible GT4 customer racing car, which will slot below the GT3.

Rendering courtesy of TheophilusChin

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