AMG. Three letters that make the hearts of Mercedes fans beat faster. The subsidiary is Mercedes’ in-house tuner with its own development department and builds the high-performance models of the group with the star. AMG stands for the company founders Hans Werner Aufrecht (83) and Erhard Melcher (82), as well as the original company headquarters in Grossaspach (D).
But enough history lesson. Today AMG is at home in Affalterbach (D) and the money printing machine from Mercedes. The sport versions are particularly popular here in Switzerland and they make no secret of their potency. The AMG can be recognized by its pointed shark nose (Shark Nose), the four exhaust tailpipes and the so-called Panamericana radiator grille with vertical struts. But what will happen to these typical identifying features if the sports subsidiary becomes purely electric as a result of the Mercedes strategy? Stromer don’t need a radiator grille or an exhaust.
No exhaust, no front grill
The recently unveiled Vision AMG study provides the answer: thanks to LEDs, they become digital! Vertical LED lights in the front are intended to symbolize the former radiator grille. There are also LED daytime running lights in the form of a stylized star, which are connected by a light strip. At the rear there are three round lights in tubes on each side, which are supposed to remind you of exhaust pipes. Mercedes chief designer Gorden Wagener announces: “This will be the signature of the rear lights of all electric AMGs.”
Record brother and Porsche role model
Apart from these petrol relics, the study looks extremely futuristic. It is reminiscent of the teardrop shape of the EQXX electric test vehicle, that managed a record run of over 1000 kilometers with one battery charge. Accordingly, the Vision AMG is very flat and appears very long due to the spoiler lip with integrated active spoiler. Under the rear, a powerful carbon diffuser sucks the electric supercar onto the road.
What is also striking: AMG’s first in-house electrical development is a four-door! Mercedes is going the same way as Porsche the Taycan and only brings an electric sports sedan and only later a pure sports car. The reason is probably the range – a larger battery fits into the underbody of a sedan. AMG sells this in the press release as a “functional e-sports car of the future”.
Wait until 2024
The Mercedes sports subsidiary has not yet revealed any further details on the technology or performance data. However, AMG is developing its own platform for electric performance models, which is called AMG.EA platform and is the basis of this design study. There is also a new high-performance high-voltage battery and a so-called axial flux motor from Yasa. The English company also builds the electric motor for the Ferrari hybrids. The disc-shaped design allows for more power with less space and weight, and the engine responds more directly – ideal prerequisites for an AMG.
However, some patience is still required. The first completely self-developed purely electric model from AMG will not be launched until 2025.