Latest news with #Mercedes-AMGConceptAMGGTXX
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Revolutionary New EV Charging Plans for US Revealed
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. Higher electric vehicle charging speeds require cars capable of receiving the more powerful flow of electrons. Mercedes-AMG is building new cars capable of higher electric extremes than ever before, and Mercedes-Benz is creating a charging network to match. "Just like AMG defines performance on the road, we define the charging performance," Michael Springmann, head of high-power charging in Europe for Mercedes-Benz Mobility, told Newsweek. The company has committed to building 10,000 charging points at a minimum within the next 10 years. Mercedes-Benz has already confirmed that it will build over 2,500 charging points at a minimum of 400 stations across North America by 2027. The company has invested $1 billion to complete the installation. Today, the company operates about 400 charging plugs in 14 U.S. states and will greatly increase the number of Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging sites this summer. Each site has four to over 20 plugs. The average installation has 10 plugs. A rendering of a vehicle parked at a Mercedes-Benz-branded charger. A rendering of a vehicle parked at a Mercedes-Benz-branded charger. Mercedes-Benz Canada will have its first High-Power Charging site by the end of the year. "AMG has defined performance on the road for decades, now we're pushing the limits of charging performance. Drivers are hungry for fast charging in amenity rich locations that fit their lifestyle... Soon, we will increase charging power for an even faster experience across North America," Andrew Cornelia, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging North America, told Newsweek. A recently announced technological innovation will be part of the company's efforts to revolutionize the charging experience in the U.S. and Europe. The enhanced electric capability is a result of a new charging station co-developed with Alpitronic, an Italian charging hub company with a U.S. base in Charlotte, North Carolina. Like the Mercedes-AMG Concept AMG GT XX, the stations use direct cooling. This technology helps the charging station's thermal management capabilities, allowing battery cells and power lines to remain within heat tolerances during the high-heat-producing charging process. Energy can flow at a higher rate out of the station as a direct result of these innovations, and because of the high-speed capability of the new AMG 800-volt electric vehicle architecture, more than 850 kilowatts, over a wide charging curve. All power is delivered via a CCS (Combined Charging System) connector cable. "No one wants to fly on the Autobahn and then fail at the charger," Michael Schiebe, chairman of the board of management of Mercedes-AMG, told Newsweek. Though powerful, the unit is not ready to hand over electrons quite as quickly as BYD's new chargers. Introduced in China, the chargers deliver 1,000 kilowatts of energy at 1,000 volts. The company's Han L sedan can gain nearly 250 miles of range in under five minutes at that rate. The first production version of the new Alpitronic charging station will be installed in 2026, Springmann said. The company has already worked with Mercedes-Benz to install charging stations at locations across the U.S. Those stations are half the power of the proposed AMG stations. Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging North America has not said if the higher-power chargers AMG has worked on will replace some of the recently installed chargers in the region. However, questions remain regarding the connector for those stations. With more vehicles coming to market with NACS (North American Charging Standard) charging, Alpitronic and Mercedes-Benz have yet to publicly sort out whether the charger will be brought to market exclusively with a CCS connection, as discussed in regard to the prototype technology, or with a NACS, or both. Currently, some adapter solutions are available for electric vehicle owners. This week, the High-Power Charging brand announced that it has entered into an agreement with Federal Realty Investment Trust to be the preferred charging provider of the company's national retail portfolio. The arm of the automaker will install over 500 400-kilowatt/800-volt charging stalls that are compatible with CCS and NACS-equipped vehicles from any brand. The first location is expected to go live in 2026. An initial rollout will begin at 20 locations including Camelback Colonnade in Phoenix, AZ; Lawrence Park Shopping Center in Broomall, PA; and Shops at Pembroke Gardens in Pembroke Pines, FL. Each location will have up to 10 charging stalls capable of 400-kilowatt charging speeds, which can be used by vehicles that charge via CCS and NACS connections.
Newsweek
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
1,341-Horsepower Concept Car Showcases Electric Future of Mercedes-AMG
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 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.
Newsweek
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Electroluminescent Paint, Headlight Speakers May Be the Future of Cars
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. Last year, Mercedes-Benz previewed a host of technological innovations, including artificial intelligence-enhanced augmented reality car shopping possibilities, bio-identical textiles, solar paint and on-motor brakes. Today, some of that technology is closer to reality. As part of the company's Mercedes-AMG Concept AMG GT XX debut, the real-life use cases for several featured innovations were revealed. Glow in the Dark Cars MBUX Fluid Light Paint coats the exterior of the Concept AMG GT XX. It uses electroluminescence technology to allow special color pigments to emit light in response to being touched by an alternating current. The response is a glow that emanates from the car, particularly noticeable at nighttime. To achieve the look, several electrically conductive and insulating layers are meshed. Aero wheel on the Mercedes-AMG Concept AMG GT XX. Aero wheel on the Mercedes-AMG Concept AMG GT XX. Mercedes-Benz The paint first appeared on the Mercedes-AMG GT3 race car at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. However, on the Concept, it has a larger purpose: to alert an owner as to the charging status of the car. Different portions of the vehicle illuminate then deactivate while the car is charging to give a visual countdown as to when the car is full of electrons and ready for the journey that awaits. Speakers in the Headlights Concept AMG GT XX features exterior speakers housed in the car's headlights, using the headlight housing as the speaker enclosure. This saves space and weight while allowing new sound variants including low frequency and more powerful bass reproduction. The speakers serve as signals for pedestrian protection, emitting a noise to allow them to hear the otherwise silently moving vehicle. 700 Programmable LEDs on Display The MBUX Fluid Light Panel at the rear of the car features over 700 programmable RGB LEDs. The illumination allows for active communication of a vehicle's status with the outside world. Hyundai and Audi have showed off similar technology and already employed it in vehicles globally. Leather Alternative Textiles Derived From Racing Tires U.S. bio-design startup Modern Meadow worked with Mercedes-Benz to create next-generation materials that mimic leather and silk in a effort to create a circular ecosystem that does not rely on animals. Instead, the material is made of recycled rubber, vegetable proteins and biopolymers. The Concept debuts that material, Labfiber Biotech Leather Alternative, in a vehicle for the first time. It mimics the collagens found in leather and can be finished in a number of surfaces including nubuck, full-grain leather or suede, as well as textures and colors. It is made using a chemical recycling process that combines the old tires with biomethane to create pyrolysis oil. That oil is then turned into plastic fibers, which are then added to vegetable proteins and bio-based polymers. Labfiber Biotech Silk Alternative door handle on the Mercedes-AMG Concept AMG GT XX. Labfiber Biotech Silk Alternative door handle on the Mercedes-AMG Concept AMG GT XX. Mercedes-Benz Unlike other artificial leathers, Labfiber can be re-tanned, which helps it achieve the same look and feel, including how it ages, as traditional leather. It is lighter than the natural version and is waterproof and breathable. The Concept features Leather Alternative that is made from tires from a Mercedes-AMG customer's GT3 car. After processing, the tires were used to create 43 square feet of Leather Alternative. AMG has also installed a synthetic silk in the Concept. Labfiber Biotech Silk Alternative starts with silk proteins produced by genetically modified bacteria that are refined to create a shiny, silky yarn with the same functional properties as animal-based silk. The new model has door handles made of the material. 3D-Printed Seats Mercedes-AMG has 3D printed the front seat pads in the Concept. They sit in carbon fiber racing shells that have built-in ventilation openings and integrated headrests. The nature of the seating pad allows for easy change in/out to allow for a more custom seat design and fit. Electronically Controlled, Moving Wheels Mercedes-AMG has built the GT XX with the world's first intelligent, electronically controlled aerodynamically enhanced wheels. Each 21-inch, five-spoke forged aluminum wheel is equipped with five movable elements that are intelligently adjusted to reduce drag, thus improving the car's efficiency. Close-up of a wheel on the Mercedes-AMG Concept AMG GT XX. Close-up of a wheel on the Mercedes-AMG Concept AMG GT XX. Mercedes-Benz A control unit in each wheel regulates the changes to the wheel, detecting the stress on the car's braking system and whether or not cooling is needed.
