Latest news with #VisionaryDisruptoroftheYear
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
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
The Future of Mercedes-AMG Is Maybach-less
Michael Schiebe is running two divisions of Mercedes-Benz that have unique buyer sets, Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes-Maybach. AMG is the performance arm of the company and Maybach has super luxury vehicle buyers. Though they have one brand boss, they won't ever combine. "We will never, ever put those brands together, because they are different brands, and they are very special, and they are unique," Schiebe told Newsweek. The publication named Schiebe its World's Greatest Auto Disruptors Visionary Disruptor of the Year this year. Maybach and AMG are on similar paths, tasked with redefining themselves in customers' eyes as the brands find themselves part of the larger Mercedes-Benz technology and sustainability stories. While AMG is tasked with pushing the performance limits of the possible, Maybach is redefining what limits are for the company's most exclusive client set. Making a car an AMG or a Maybach isn't just about slapping upgraded finishes or parts on an existing Mercedes-Benz model. "Just to give you an example, when we turn an SL into a Maybach... We have different components in the car, different software, different suspension. We define certain criteria that a Maybach needs to fulfill to be a real Maybach, and if it doesn't fulfill this requirement, it does not qualify. We will never, ever sacrifice our high ambition for the requirements we have," Schiebe explained. Big Pilot's Watch and the Mercedes-AMG G 63. Big Pilot's Watch and the Mercedes-AMG G 63. Mercedes-AMG As the next generation of Mercedes-Benz cars comes to market, fresh platforms and power approaches will allow Maybachs to take on new levels of luxury. "I would say they should stay tuned when it comes to technology, because all the next generations of our existing portfolios and new cars, our job is to make it a Maybach. It doesn't matter whether it's an S-Class or it's a GLS, or whatever future portfolio position. They will become more comfortable than they are today," Schiebe said. "If you buy Maybach, you don't want to have the mainstream car. You want to differentiate yourself. This is why Maybach cars will never be like high-volume cars. It's a very, I would say, unique customer group. They want to show that they differ or differentiate themselves from mainstream customers. This is why, of course, the Maybach is also in a different price league than just our mainstream cars." Customers should not expect Maybach to be anything other than true to itself while pushing forward. "Talking about the future, I would say it's part of our job to constantly review the portfolio," Schiebe said. "I would say we can go further down with our [special] editions. We have been very successful with the Virgil Ablow edition... I see there is further room for, let's say, very special, low volume, very specific editions," Schiebe divulged. The Limited Edition Maybach by Virgil Abloh debuted in 2022 and was based on the S-Class sedan. The Mercedes-Maybach SL Monogram Series parked in Ibiza. The Mercedes-Maybach SL Monogram Series parked in Ibiza. Mercedes-Maybach Schiebe also hinted at a "small volume, special series" that is in the works, but refused to say which of the five Maybachs currently for sale (EQS Sedan, EQS SUV, S-Class, GLS-Class and SL-Class) would be part of the project. "[Special editions] fulfill different roles," Head of Mercedes-Maybach Daniel Lescow, told Newsweek. "Certainly, they help to draw attention to the brand, especially if we do it in a combination with the collaboration. It is a part of the brand building that is a building block." "Fortunately, we have seen the brand awareness rising over the past years. That's a very, very positive development. These editions certainly have a play in that... Customers who really want to go for that very, very, very special offer, and they find this in the editions," Lescow continued. Mercedes-Maybach will enhance the luxury of its in-person experience, a process that has been underway for the last decade. "We started with the atelier in Shanghai, which is a dedicated brand space. It's important to have people there, sales personnel, that can fully indulge into the Maybach world and are able to explain not only the car, but also the brand philosophy and the brand history. And this space in particular is the essence of the brand aesthetic. If you enter that space... you immediately get an understanding what the brand stands for," Lesow said. Much of the atelier experience comes down to appealing to a customer's senses — whether it's the smell of one of the brand's signature scents, the taste of a made-to-order espresso, the feel of supple leather options for the interior of a bespoke model or show cars that serve as inspiration. Maybach has their sights set on a level of service you'd find at a high-end hotel or restaurant. "You come in, we know you as our customers, and we treat you like in a five-star restaurant. We know what you want before you come to us and then we're going show it to you," Schiebe explained. Bottles from the Mercedes-Maybach Haute Parfumerie collection. Bottles from the Mercedes-Maybach Haute Parfumerie collection. Mercedes-Maybach Brand centers are designed to go further. The company is opening its first in Seoul, "A space in the middle of the very busy Gangnam area, a very stylish area in the middle of the top shopping [district]. This will be a very, very important expression of the brand," Lescow said. With its upgraded client services offerings, the Maybach brand is looking to raise the bar on super luxury car buying, besting those long considered the leads in the business, like Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini and Bentley.
