logo
1,341-Horsepower Concept Car Showcases Electric Future of Mercedes-AMG

1,341-Horsepower Concept Car Showcases Electric Future of Mercedes-AMG

Newsweek16 hours ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
The bold future of Mercedes-AMG began in earnest with the unveiling of its Concept AMG GT XX tonight. The car is part of a new era for the brand, one dubbed "a new dimension of performance."
Introduced by Michael Schiebe, CEO of Mercedes-AMG and Markus Schäfter, member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG and Mercedes-Benz chief technology officer, the concept car is indicative of a production model that will come to market in 2026. Schiebe was named Newsweek's 2025 World's Greatest Auto Disruptors Visionary Disruptor of the Year for his transformative role at Mercedes-AMG.
Concept AMG GT XX rides on the company's new AMG.EA platform, uses axial flux motors to deliver 1,341 horsepower, has a high-voltage battery the company calls "groundbreaking" and can be charged to add 400 kilometers of range in about five minutes thanks to its 800-volt technology.
The car is a technical achievement for the brand, which is starting to build its reputation as a higher-performance nameplate than it has been known for being in recent history. Much of its technology comes from the company's global research and development network and is linked to the company's Formula 1 powertrain innovations.
Front exterior of the Mercedes-AMG Concept AMG GT XX.
Front exterior of the Mercedes-AMG Concept AMG GT XX.
Mercedes-Benz
"The best minds in our global R&D network have contributed their extensive expertise – from Mercedes-Benz in Sindelfingen and Untertürkheim to Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach and YASA in the UK to our Formula 1 drivetrain experts at Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains in Brixworth. Together, they have developed the Concept AMG GT XX and are providing an insight into pioneering drivetrain technology and the future of performance. The technology program pushes the boundaries even further and ventures into new ground," Schäfer said.
The GT XX is moved by new motors that are 30 percent smaller and two-thirds lighter than current Mercedes-Benz motors. But, they have three times the power density.
The technology was previewed earlier this year by the company at an event in Berlin in parallel with the debut of its partnership with Apptronik, which will result in humanoid robots being installed as part of its manufacturing process.
Those motors are able to move the car up to 223 miles per hour. That speed is possible because of innovative battery cooling technology and vent design that keeps the electric vehicle from getting too hot and shutting down for vehicle and passenger protection, and allows the motors to continually maximize their performance.
The battery is an entirely new endeavor for Mercedes-Benz. Its development draws on the company's experience in Formula 1 and contains new battery cells, direct cooling and high voltage. It was created to meet the high-performance demands future AMG vehicles will ask of it.
Despite the demands, Mercedes-Benz expects the battery to have a long life.
The car's design boasts innovative features as well. It is aerodynamically optimized with a low hood, sharply raked windshield and a more oval and concave grille than you'll find on current Mercedes-AMG models. At 186 mph, the car uses 83 percent of its energy output to overcome drag rather than to propel the vehicle forward, an example that showcases how important slick aerodynamics are to a model.
The car's drag coefficient, 0.198, bests the figures of the AMG ONE and Tesla Model S, and is close to what the Xiaomi SU7 and Lucid Air, two models noted for their exceptional efficiency and performance, offer.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Verstappen hoping upgrades can boost title defence at Red Bull home race
Verstappen hoping upgrades can boost title defence at Red Bull home race

Yahoo

time6 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Verstappen hoping upgrades can boost title defence at Red Bull home race

Max Verstappen leads Red Bull into their home Austrian Grand Prix this weekend hoping a major upgrades package can boost his title defence before it is too late. The four-time world champion, who still needs to avoid any on-track problems that could lead to a mandatory race ban, has won four times at the high-speed Red Bull Ring circuit in the Styrian Alps and will be backed by his 'orange army' of fans. But he knows that combination may not be enough. McLaren's championship-leading duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who collided in Canada, are hoping to return to form after that rare off-day in a forecasted heatwave on a circuit expected to suit their car. Last year's winner George Russell of Mercedes, who took advantage of McLaren's struggles in Montreal to win with aplomb ahead of Verstappen, will arrive with momentum and optimism, if wary of the heat. "We are getting an update for Austria which will be refined for Silverstone," Red Bull's consultant Helmut Marko told Austria's Kleine Zeitung. "But if that doesn't work then it will be difficult for the championship –- as if it is not difficult enough already." Breaking free of team chief Christan Horner's more upbeat approach ahead of the 11th race of the 24-race season, Marko said he expected F1's cost cap and the need to focus on preparation for next year's sweeping regulation changes to curtail development this year. "At some point people will say 'That's it for further development and for two reasons -- time -- the production of new parts takes time –- and the cost cap." He suggested that a key decision to focus entirely on the 2026 car would likely be taken next month. Verstappen, whose Red Bull car has been unable to match McLaren for most of this year, is without a win in three races since the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in May. He has won twice this season, at the high-speed Imola and Suzuka circuits, but struggled on slower tracks. In the drivers' championship, he trails McLaren's Piastri, by 43 points, and Norris, by 21, and is two penalty points on his licence away from a ban. Two of his current total will expire after this Sunday's race. - Red Bull's weaknesses - Horner conceded that "our weakness at the moment is in the medium-speed type of corner... and in Austria, in the middle sector, there's a bit of it there. We'll see. If it's hot, I expect McLaren to be stronger again. "There's a significant points gap between us and them, but we don't give up on anything and we're not even at the halfway point yet." In last year's race, Verstappen collided with Norris as they fought for the lead, gifting Russell his victory. That tangle, and his "stupid" crash into Piastri in Montreal, may hang heavily for Norris this weekend as he attempts to rebuild his title bid without further mishaps. With Russell confident and Mercedes also boosted by rookie Kimi Antonelli's maiden podium finish in Canada, a closely-fought contest is in prospect involving all the leading teams. "We expect our rivals to be much more competitive in Austria," said Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff. "The track should be a good test of our recent updates." Ferrari go into the weekend with less optimism. "For us, the best thing is to take it race by race, try to maximise," said Charles Leclerc. "It's been a disappointing first part of the season, but we keep pushing. Let's see where that takes us." str/jc

Toto Wolff Defends F1 Superiority, Slams Balance of Performance in Le Mans
Toto Wolff Defends F1 Superiority, Slams Balance of Performance in Le Mans

Newsweek

time10 hours ago

  • Newsweek

Toto Wolff Defends F1 Superiority, Slams Balance of Performance in Le Mans

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. While several F1 teams, such as Alpine and Ferrari, have fielded cars in the World Endurance Championship, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has explained why the German manufacturer has stayed away from the iconic Hypercar class of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Mercedes parted ways with the Le Mans race after a major accident in 1999, where the car flipped dangerously after taking off at high speed due to aerodynamic problems. Currently, the team's presence is limited to the GT3 class. While Wolff acknowledged the glory of Le Mans, he revealed his bias towards F1, considering it is the top tier of motorsports. Despite declaring that all other forms of racing come second to F1, he addressed the possibility of returning to Le Mans on the Bloomberg Hot Pursuit podcast. He said: Toto Wolff, Executive Director of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team on a scooter prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on April 20, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Toto Wolff, Executive Director of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team on a scooter prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on April 20, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia."Le Mans... I'm a racer. The Le Mans 24 Hours is one of the greatest races in the world. "Formula 1, for me - obviously I'm biased - is the best there is. It's the best drivers, the quickest cars, the greatest tracks. But if I had to say what's next? Le Mans 24 Hours and the Indy 500. And then, for insiders, the Nürburgring 24 Hours. That, for me, is the top of the top. "What it is for me today is, we are concentrating on the main platform, and that is Formula 1. It's what we want to do. It captures 99% of the audience. Everything else comes second." Wolff then explained the hurdle that was preventing Mercedes from racing in Le Mans - the Balance of Power (BoP) rule, which prioritizes fairness in competition by ensuring all cars are as equal as possible within a class. He added: "As Mercedes, it's something that we've done in the past, but we weren't particularly... that wasn't our happiest place. "And then there's the little caveat to all this: at Mercedes, we are racing people. We don't like BoPs - we don't like Balance of Performance. We don't like somebody assessing your power, your energy consumption, your weight, your driver skill... "You spend so much time and money and effort developing the quickest car, and then you're being given 10 kilogrammes of ballast. I don't want that. I just want to build the quickest car." Wolff reckoned that a budget cap, like the one in F1, makes more sense to have a level playing field. He explained: "Formula 1 has shown how it should be done. Give us a cost cap. Do more of that - give everybody a cost cap. You cannot spend more than - whatever you said - 30-40 million. And within this 30-40 million, you can do what you want. I mean, there are still regulations, but nobody needs to bluff in pre-season testing or qualifying. It's pure racing. "If that were to happen, then Le Mans would absolutely be something we would look at. But at the moment, with BoP - having some officials judge whether you're too quick, adding 10 kilogrammes to your car or taking it out of someone else's the next day - that's not for us at the moment."

Mercedes-AMG's Wild New EV Packs 1,341 HP and Super Fast Charging
Mercedes-AMG's Wild New EV Packs 1,341 HP and Super Fast Charging

Edmunds

time14 hours ago

  • Edmunds

Mercedes-AMG's Wild New EV Packs 1,341 HP and Super Fast Charging

Mercedes-AMG is entering the world of high-horsepower electric vehicles and it's starting with a wild concept, the AMG GT XX. This four-door fully electric superlative on wheels is said to have a mind-bending 1,341 horsepower, a 223-mph top speed, and the ability to add 250 miles of range in just 5 minutes thanks to mega-fast charging speeds. It's just too bad that, from the front, it kinda looks like a fish. Design focused on aerodynamics The overall design is certainly … polarizing. But there are still a lot of cool details worth calling out. The wheels have electronically controlled moving blades that can open and close to maximize range or cooling as needed. All told, the overall shape is slippery enough to give the GT XX a drag coefficient of just 0.19 — a staggering number in terms of aerodynamic design.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store