Mercedes-AMG GT XX concept revealed
Mercedes could be the first brand to sell a car in Australia with one megawatt of power.
Mega what? That's the term for 1000kW of power, an enormous figure that pushes the brand's next supercar beyond the wildest cars currently on sale – machines such as the 760kW Porsche Taycan Turbo GT and Lamborghini's V12 hybrid Revuelto with its 747kW of power.
Wilder still, Mercedes says its car is capable of 'at least 1000kW', suggesting the car's true performance potential is even higher than that.
That enormous power lies under the composite skin of the Mercedes-AMG Concept GT XX, a show car designed to demonstrate the brand's considerable ability.
It has three 'axial flux' electric motors that, according to Mercedes, develop 'high power from an extremely compact package', offering 'unprecedented capability'.
How unprecedented?
Try a top speed of 360km/h – some 55km/h more than Porsche's fastest Taycan.
Better still, the car has the ability to take on 400 kilometres of electric range in just five minutes.
Granted, electric charging infrastructure to support that does not exist.
But when it does, Mercedes will be ready.
The electromechanical guts underpinning the concept car were a joint effort by Mercedesâ€'AMG in Affalterbach, where flash road cars are made, and Mercedesâ€'AMG High Performance Powertrains in Brixworth, where Formula 1 powerplants are born.
The new machine represents the first electric car developed purely by AMG – other fast battery-powered Benz models are hotted-up versions of the brand's luxury cars.
The car's retro looks are inspired by Mercedes concepts of the 1970s, accompanied by thoroughly modern details.
A dot matrix light panel between the tail lamps replaces conventional badges. The show car can display Mercedes or AMG logos – or be customised with anything else a driver might like to say to those behind them.
Clever lighting elements on the side replace pinstriping or vinyl details.
In the cabin, an F1-like steering wheel takes inspiration from the Mercedes-AMG One hypercar – the revolutionary machine powered by the same 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrid motor that powered Mercedes to several championships.
Michael Schiebe, chief executive of Mercedes-AMG, said the concept car represents 'the next milestone in the history of AMG', one that 'forges a whole new dimension of performance'.
'We're bringing groundbreaking technology that redefines high performance,' he said.
'The best thing is that this car is a true AMG with every fibre of its being. The heart of an AMG was always the motor, and that will remain so with our in-house electric architecture. 'With our high-tech axial flux motor, we're delivering a revolutionary new drive that is unparalleled in terms of power density, weight and packaging.
'This pairs with a new performance battery developed from scratch that enables previously unimagined level of performance and endurance.'
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