Latest news with #AMG
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
SPMEPCI scheme to attract new global EV players to India: Mercedes-Benz India
The Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India (SPMEPCI) will serve as a major catalyst for new foreign automakers to enter the Indian EV market, said Santosh Iyer, CEO and Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz India , on Friday. Speaking to PTI after unveiling two high-performance sportscars — the AMG GT 63 4MATIC+ and the AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+ Coupe — Iyer welcomed the scheme, calling it a 'forward-looking initiative' by the Ministry of Heavy Industries . The two cars are priced at ₹3 crore and ₹3.65 crore (ex-showroom, India), respectively. 'The scheme is primarily designed for new entrants. We've been in India for three decades and have already invested ₹3,000 crore in our Chakan plant near Pune. We're producing two EVs locally even before the scheme was announced,' Iyer told PTI. 'For us, it's business as usual, but SPMEPCI will encourage new players to enter and invest in India's EV journey.' Under the SPMEPCI scheme , automakers committing ₹4,150 crore in local manufacturing will be allowed to import up to 8,000 electric vehicles at a concessional 15% import duty, significantly lower than the existing 70–100per cent. Supply chain challenges Addressing concerns around supply chain challenges and rare earth magnets, Iyer reassured that Mercedes-Benz has faced no disruptions in India so far, crediting its global backend teams for effective management. On the launch of the new AMG models, Iyer said these performance-oriented vehicles reaffirm the brand's commitment to Indian enthusiasts. 'The AMG GT range is a symbol of engineering precision, raw performance, and emotional connect. Indian customers have shown immense appreciation for AMG's high-performance legacy,' he added.
Motor 1
5 hours ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Spied: AMG's New 4-Door Supercar Caught Testing In the Alps
Hot on the heels of the AMG GT XX concept's reveal on Tuesday , spy videographers have caught Mercedes testing the production version gliding stealthily through the Alps. Expected to share much of the concept's design, AMG's all-electric, four-door supercar wears the same sleek fastback bodylines as the GT XX, albeit heavily camouflaged in a patterned wrap. The massive grille seems to be making a return, as do the circular-pattern taillights. But the headlights are notably different, with a more production-ready tri-star design, inspired by the brand's logo. Though we never see this test mule pull off any quick corners or hard accelerations, we do get a taste of its sound. That's right, this EV isn't silent. There's a distinct engine-like idle emanating from underneath that camouflage, a feature hyped up by executives at the concept's reveal on Wednesday. There's not much to glean from the sound itself—it doesn't seem like a burbling V-8 to us—but it's also likely not finalized. So take the noise with a grain of salt, for now. As for performance, there should be a lot of it. The AMG GT XX concept is rated at 1,340 horsepower thanks to three axial-flux motors, two at the rear, and another up front. It runs on an 800-volt architecture for ultra-quick charging and uses direct-cooled cylindrical battery cells for better cooling attributes. While that power figure might not be the same, it's very likely the production car will carry this same powertrain setup when it's revealed later this year. As for pricing, the AMG GT EV will likely compete directly against its closest segment rival, the Porsche Taycan , which starts at $101,395. More on AMG's New Four-Door Weapon The First Standalone Mercedes-AMG EV Has NA Miata-Looking Fake Taillights Mercedes-AMG GT4 EV Spied For The First Time As Porsche Taycan Rival Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
The Drive
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
Mercedes-AMG Might Be Having a Windows Vista Moment With These Four-Cylinder Hybrids
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Multi-billion-dollar companies get so caught up in innovation that they focus more on what they could do than what they should do. Sure, the products are usually impressive from a technological standpoint, but oftentimes, they're way worse to use. One example that comes to mind is Windows Vista—the fresh-looking operating system from 2007 that people absolutely hated to work with. Another more recent example is the four-cylinder plug-in hybrid Mercedes-AMG models that used to run twin-turbo V8s. Like Windows Vista, Mercedes-AMG's small-displacement PHEVs are great in theory. Microsoft marketed better security and enhanced search functionality with its OS; meanwhile, Mercedes bragged about its 671 horsepower with electric turbo anti-lag and supercar-like zero-to-60 times. But just as customers grew massively frustrated with Vista and its inability to run on older computers without crashing, drivers decided that all that power from an electrified AMG isn't any good if you can't hear it. Vista's predecessor, Windows XP, was admittedly showing its age by the time the new version came along, but like the old-fashioned V8, it worked—and on the rare occasion that it didn't, its users knew how to identify, troubleshoot, and eliminate those shortcomings. See the resemblance? Microsoft / Mercedes-AMG Mercedes acknowledges this now as it's reportedly moving away from the four-cylinders to build more inline-sixes and V8s. Autocar cites a source at Mercedes as saying, 'Technically, the four-cylinder is one of the most advanced drivetrains available in a production car. It's also right up there on performance. But despite this, it failed to resonate with our traditional customers. We've recognized that.' This would also mean that, like Vista, the four-cylinder AMG C63 and GLC63 didn't last long. If you'll remember, those only launched three years ago, in 2022. That's even shorter than Vista, which received mainstream support for five years, through 2012. Still, Microsoft's faux pas was far more widespread. Estimates claim some 330 million people were tortured by Vista, while far fewer than 100,000 ever took a chance on the AMGs that whir like a vacuum cleaner. 'We jumped far ahead with this technology, but we should have explained the technology more to our salespeople and customers,' explained AMG boss Michael Schiebe to Car Magazine in April. 'We will continue to do that and further improve. There is a German saying, 'You never have a second chance at a first impression.' Maybe we missed out on the first impression, but if you have the opportunity, I'm sure you will be convinced of the technology.' The list of Vista criticisms is longer, too—enough to warrant not just a Wikipedia tab but an entire page. Everybody's beef with the electrified four-cylinders is pretty much the same: They sound bad. That's a pretty big problem considering the customers they're marketed to. Mercedes was so sure people wouldn't mind the switch from twin-turbo V8s to plug-in hybrid four-cylinders, and really, that's as crazy as it seems. Got a tip or question for the author? Contact them directly: caleb@
Auto Blog
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Mercedes-AMG's Most Hated Engine Is Being Replaced
In 2025, there's still no replacement for displacement In a recent interview, Mercedes-AMG CEO Michael Shiebe admitted that converting fans of the brand's old V8 to the newer four-cylinder plug-in hybrid in the C63 has been a challenge. Prior to that, he said some customers have been lost in the midst of the brand's downsizing exercise. No intention to formally discontinue the four-pot engine was proposed, but that now seems to be happening, with a senior insider confirming that this unloved powertrain will be phased out in favor of larger inline-six and V8 mills. 2025 Audi S3 VS 2025 Mercedes-AMG CLA 35: Which one comes out on top? Watch More Mercedes-AMG Finally Admits Defeat 'Technically, the four-cylinder is one of the most advanced drivetrains available in a production car,' said the source who spoke to Autocar. 'It's also right up there on performance. But despite this, it failed to resonate with our traditional customers. We've recognized that.' Mercedes would not necessarily have to develop a new engine from scratch for smaller AMG models. In the E53 AMG, for instance, the company uses a 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbocharged hybrid that produces 577 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. It's not a direct BMW M5 rival, but it's not far off in terms of performance, either. This engine in a smaller AMG model could make for a special performance car. More exciting is the possibility of a new flat-plane crank V8, not dissimilar from the one in the GT Black Series. Whatever replaces the four-cylinder unit, it's sure to mark a return to the emotional character that has defined AMG models for so long. The current C63 S E Performance is a heck of a performer, boasting 671 hp and 752 lb-ft, but the previous V8-powered C63 set a high bar that it hasn't been able to surpass, no matter how quick it is. Other AMG Models Should Benefit From Bigger Engines Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. The GLC 63 S E Performance shares the C63's 671-hp four-cylinder plug-in hybrid, so is also in line to get either a bigger six- or eight-cylinder engine in the years ahead. A notch below these full-fat AMG models are the AMG SL 43 Roadster and C43 sedan, both of which use a 416-hp version of the M139 four-cylinder engine. In a car of the SL's caliber and price, the use of a four-cylinder has been especially contentious, so we expect these models to ditch the 2.0L engine for a larger Six. Other than its more ordinary soundtrack, there's another reason to phase out the M139: It won't be easy or cost-effective to get it to comply with new Euro 7 emissions regulations. 'There's no doubt about its potential – this is one of the most sophisticated engines we've ever built – but the investment to make it EU7-compliant is very high,' said the insider. Markus Schäfer, Mercedes CTO, said at the same event that EVs and hybrid gas engines will continue being developed in tandem, and that the new V8 'will support upcoming emissions regulations.' Both six- and eight-cylinder engines will use either 48V or full hybrid systems. Ultimately, Merc's four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain looks like it will only last for a single generation, although a specific timeline wasn't given. Over time, it may come to be regarded as a rare misstep in AMG's legacy. That's only if you're a cylinder snob like most enthusiasts, of course; the current C63 and GLC 63 are brilliant performance vehicles in many respects. But their incredible technical achievements came at the expense of the emotional qualities of their predecessors. About the Author Karl Furlong View Profile
Daily Mail
16 hours ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Mercedes' electric family supercar of tomorrow
By Mercedes plans to take the electric car world by storm with a new family-size supercar that combines beautiful looks with the latest tech. Gunning for Porsche's Taycan - the standout four-door performance EV on sale right now - the Concept AMG GT XX unveiled today previews a production car that promises to be a tour de force like nothing else seen in the electric car market. The AMG-developed concept is already a fully drivable vehicle - and one that boasts over 1,300bhp from cutting-edge e-motors, a radical design that includes a controversial police-inspired rear light display, and a cockpit that looks like it's been lifted from a prototype racing car. These elements combine to produce a host of jaw-dropping statistics. According to Mercedes bigwigs, it can hit 62mph in less than 2.5 seconds. The top speed is more than three times the legal speed limit in Britain. And its next-generation battery can add almost 250 miles of charge in the time it takes to fill up with petrol and pay for it at the forecourt kiosk. And these aren't pie-in-the-sky claims coming out of the Stuttgart HQ; bosses say these figures are representative of what the top-spec version of the showroom-ready EV will deliver when it arrives... next year. Monumental electric power At the beating heart of the Concept AMG GT XX is an oil‑cooled 114kWh cell‑to‑pack battery delivering energy to a trio of 'axial-flux' motors that are key to the EV's incredible performance figures. Developed by British company YASA, they are around a third of the size of existing e-motors used in production EVs - yet they are three times as power dense. In total, the three e-motors produce a staggering 1,341bhp. To put this into perspective, the £2.5million Bugatti Chiron hypercar's 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 petrol engine delivers 1,578bhp. Experts have likened the significance of axial-flux e-motor adoption for EVs to that of fuel injection of combustion engines in the late 1980s and early '90s as the replacement for carburettors. Two of these revolutionary e-motors drive the rear wheels, while a third provides power to the front-wheels, making this an all-wheel-drive model. But on demand. Under slower driving conditions, the third e-motor automatically decouples from the drivetrain to downgrade the Concept AMG GT XX to a rear-driven EV. This improves efficiency by reducing mechanical drag, meaning a little extra range from that massive battery. Pedal to the floor, it is said to be able to go up to 224mph flat out. For how long this is achievable before the battery is drained entirely is not yet revealed. The cylindrical-cell battery is also far more advanced than anything seen in existing mainstream EVs - and has been co-developed by AMG's Formula 1 powertrain division based in Brixworth, Northamptonshire. Switching from liquid to oil cooled is said to deliver more efficient heat transfer under sustained load, meaning the battery can operate at peak efficiency far longer than a conventional lithium-ion battery pack. The battery has a high voltage of 'more than 800 volts' and can support DC charging at up to 850kW - which is way beyond the capacity of any public charger in situ in the UK, or around the world. Theoretically, Mercedes claims it will be able to add 249 miles (400km) of range in a charge lasting just five minutes. Though this is likely dependent on a roll-out of faster charging points, which bosses said are on the way. Markus Schäfer, chief technology officer at Mercedes-AMG, said during the unveiling: 'Three years ago, 300kW charging on the road was unthinkable. Now it's reality. 'We're already seeing 480kW stations in China. 1000kW parks will come.' Mercedes is yet to confirm what the total driving range with a 100 per cent charged battery could be. The arrangement of the powertrain is also ground-breaking. The production car will debut the German company's new electric car platform, which sees the battery pack integrated into the chassis to boost torsional rigidity and crash protection. This will underpin most Mercedes EVs thereafter. The four-door family supercar will also incorporate double‑wishbone front and multi‑link rear suspension set‑up with adaptive air springs, active roll control, and rear‑wheel steering. Combined with all-wheel-drive system and a mooted 50:50 weight distribution, it could be unmatched in terms of EV track performance. So confident in the car's capabilities, Mercedes says it will attempt to break various records using the prototype ahead of the production car launching in 2026. '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,' Schäfer said. '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 programme pushes the boundaries even further and ventures into new ground.' He added that the car has the capacity to 'lift performance and endurance to a completely new level'. But AMG is adamant that Concept AMG GT XX should retain the emotional appeal of the big V8 petrol engine performance cars it produces en mass today - and EVs will eventually replace from 2035 onwards. To achieve this, an eight‑speaker exterior sound system – mounted in the headlight housings – mimics acceleration sounds of a combustion powertrain. Will the production version look this good? There's no denying the Concept AMG GT XX is a gorgeous piece of automotive design. It's an extremely sleek - and very low - shape that will likely be tweaked for the production four-door model to improve cabin space, especially head room. That said, Mercedes design boffins say the general silhouette will largely stay consistent, including its low-mounted grille, high shoulder lines, clean profile, massive wheels, and dramatic six ringed rear light cluster. What's unlikely to be retained are the active aero vanes in the 21-inch wheel spokes, which open at slower speeds to improve brake cooling and close to improve the aerodynamic performance around the arches when a driver puts their foot down. The LED displays in the sills - made from luminescent paint - showing the state of charge of the battery won't make it to the showroom car either. The same can be said about daring features to the rear, like the 730-LED dot-matrix panel between the brake lights, which can spell out a number of different combinations of words and characters - similar to the signs displayed in the back of traffic officer cars when they pull ahead of offenders and direct them to pull over at the side of the road. An airbrake spoiler deploying under heavy braking or at high speed, working in tandem with a large carbonfibre diffuser, will, however, be fitted to the EV that customers can buy shortly. The concept also does without a rear window, though Mercedes says this will be a traditional glass panel when the production vehicle emerges in 2026. That said, many of the concept features mentioned that won't make the showroom are said to be under ongoing development for models coming further down the line - so you might still be able to display expletives to cars behind in the future. A family model with a race-car cockpit The four-door - and four seat - coupe is dimensionally adequate for use as a family car, in the same way that the Porsche Taycan has been snapped up by eco-conscious households of late. Lotus is also targeting the same market with its Emeya EV . But don't be fooled by the suggestion of practicality, because once inside the Mercedes feels like a high-performance endurance racer rather than a school-run saloon. Dual digital displays (the instrument cluster 10.25 inches and the main dash display 14 inches) dominate the front of the cabin, while the F1-derived steering wheel is very much in the ilk of the unit used in the AMG One hypercar. The interior is also bathed in a variety of experimental materials - though some of which might not make production. This includes biotech leather reportedly made from recycled GT3 tyres, protein‑derived bio‑silk door pulls (because handles weigh too much) and an exposed carbonfibre roof with no headliner. When can I buy one? A production version of the Concept AMG GT XX will be launched in 2026, and an SUV using the same EV architecture is expected to follow a year later as a challenger to the forthcoming electric Porsche Cayenne. There's no word on when order books will open, or how much it will cost, so eager EV converts will have to wait for more details to be released in the coming months.
