If you’re still not convinced that electric is the future, then perhaps this will. Mercedes-AMG, best known for stuffing massive powerful engines in their cars, is now working on EV performance models. The first fully-electric AMG offering will be unveiled this year.
Announced in Mercedes-AMG’s presentation of their electrification roadmap today, the AMG EVs will essentially be derivatives of the new Mercedes EQ models, based on the new Mercedes Electric Vehicle Architecture (EVA) – similar to how most of the current crop of AMG performance models are based on existing Mercedes-Benz cars.
In true AMG fashion, these fully-electric luxury models will feature extensive modifications to pretty much every single (electro)mechanical part of the car, including drivetrain, chassis, design, and even the batteries itself.
While they are not quite ready to reveal the actual car just yet, we’re guessing that it will most likely be a model based on the EQS, which is set for its global debut this year.
The company is also proud to declare that the overall performance of the fully-electric powertrain will be on par with “the most powerful Mercedes-AMG Performance models” using its current 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine – probably referring to the GT Black Series, which currently makes 730 hp and 800 Nm of torque.
The Mercedes-AMG EVs will feature a fully-variable all-wheel drive system with modular torque distribution, powered by two independent motors – one on each axle. Century sprint is completed in “well under 4.0 seconds“, while top speed is rated at 250 km/h with the electric motors spinning at 18,000 rpm.
The 400-volt lithium-ion battery pack also gets customised with its own wiring harness, adapted specifically for the higher performance capacity of the AMG EVs. There’s also a new electric-exclusive AMG i-Booster function, combining electric recuperation and hydraulic braking during deceleration.
As is standard on a Mercedes-AMG model, the air suspension on the EVs will also receive performance-oriented tuning specifically for spirited driving, and to tie up the whole experience, these performance-oriented EVs will even get a specially-composed “AMG Sound Experience” with additional hardware such as loudspeakers and shakers to replicate the feeling of a combustion engine – just in a more electric way.
