- Mercedes-Benz AMG is tipped to be working on an electric supercar
- New supercar claimed to use multiple axial-flux motors each rated at close to 500 hp
- Supercar would be spiritual successor to SLS AMG Electric Drive
Mercedes-Benz AMG is working on an electric supercar for launch later this decade, Autocar reported on Tuesday, without citing a source.
According to the publication, the electric supercar will take inspiration from last year's Vision One-Eleven concept, built as a homage to the series of C111 technology demonstrators rolled out during the late 1960s and throughout the following decade.
The concept also served as a showcase of axial-flux motors developed by YASA, an expert at high-performance electric motors acquired by Mercedes in 2021. Axial-flux motors are lighter and smaller than conventional radial-flux motors of similar output, though manufacturing them is more difficult, making them a lot less cost-effective.
Mercedes plans to build axial-flux motors at a plant in Berlin, with the first application likely to be a sleek four-door liftback based on AMG's new AMG.EA EV platform, and due for launch in the next 12 months. Prototypes for the liftback, which will be AMG's first dedicated EV, have been spotted testing on multiple occasions.
Prototype for first EV fully developed by Mercedes-Benz AMG
One of YASA's axial-flux motors generates 489 hp yet weighs just under 53 pounds. Mercedes is reportedly looking at multiple configurations, including tri- and quad-motor setups.
The supercar should also use the AMG.EA platform, and according to Autocar it will not only outmatch the upcoming liftback in performance but also AMG's One hypercar, currently the holder of the production car lap record at the Nürburgring, with a time of 6:35.183 set in 2022.
Despite Mercedes recently announcing a breakthrough in the development of lightweight, energy-dense solid-state batteries, Autocar reported that the supercar will stick with liquid-type lithium-ion batteries, albeit with a new cylindrical-cell design complete with silicon-anodes.
AMG has plenty of experience with electric power. It first tested the waters in 2014 with the SLS AMG Electric Drive. It was the fastest, most powerful EV on the market at the time thanks to its 740-hp output. Since then, AMG has gathered more experience from its F1 program, particularly in the areas of energy discharging and recovery.
