Mercedes-AMG unveils concept car for first sports EV featuring YASA axial flux motor
May 24, 2022
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its view of an all-electric future for Mercedes-AMG, its high-performance brand, offering a glimpse of its first sports electric vehicle, the Vision AMG. The concept car features Mercedes-Benz’s AMG.EA platform, which is currently under development in Affalterbach for the group’s all-electric performance models, and includes an innovative axial flux motor developed by Mercedes-Benz’s wholly-owned subsidiary YASA.
All of the drivetrain components used in the design of the Vision AMG are reported to have been developed from scratch, which includes the dedicated high-performance high-voltage battery and the drive technology. The axial flux motor developed by YASA, with its compact and lightweight design, is said to deliver substantially more power than conventional electric motors. Mercedes-Benz announced the acquisition of YASA, a British-based manufacturer of ultra-high-performance electric motors in July 2021, securing access to its unique axial-flux technology.
“AMG is reinventing itself,” stated Philipp Schiemer, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. “As was once the case with our founding fathers, there has been an amazing feeling of new beginnings here in Affalterbach for quite some time now. The course has been well and truly set for an electrified future, and we’ve set the bar high. That’s because our customers expect something very special from all-electric cars. We have already well and truly proven our expertise in this regard with the SLS AMG Electric Drive, our own E PERFORMANCE hybrid technology and the first Mercedes-EQ derivatives.”
“With this study, we are now offering a first glimpse of how we are transferring the AMG DNA into the all-electric future, starting in 2025,” Schiemer continued. “Gorden and his team are pointing the way from a visual perspective with this extraordinary design. At AMG, we have always stood for that extra shot of emotion, driving fun, handling, ingenious aerodynamic features and other innovative solutions. And that’s what we continue to stand for with our first BEV developed entirely in Affalterbach. We’re developing everything from scratch, from the dedicated AMG.EA platform to the revolutionary drivetrain technology with which we will take performance electric mobility to a whole new level.”
The exterior design of the four-door coupe is defined by a long wheelbase, sharply raked A-pillar positioned far forward, short front overhang and slightly longer, aerodynamically optimised rear overhang, as well as a star-shaped headlamp signature. The concept car’s joints and shut lines are reduced to a minimum, and the rear and side windows are painted in the same alubeam silver as the car itself. The sharply angled tear-off edge at the rear incorporates an active spoiler, elongating the side view while at the same time improving the aerodynamics. The AMG-specific grille with vertical bars is retained as a distinctive brand feature despite the fact that an all-electric drivetrain does not require a classic radiator at the front. Performance details for the Vision AMG were not divulged by the automaker.
From the design of the concept car, it is clear to see the connection to the successful Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 team. These visual details include the silver paintwork with a large-format star pattern across the shoulders and rear fenders, functional elements in exposed carbon fibre, the aerodynamic design of the 22-inch wheels with aero claddings, and the AMG logo and elements on the sills and diffuser in the Petronas colours.
Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, commented, “The Vision AMG shows in spectacular style what electrification could look like at Mercedes-AMG, while staying true to the brand aesthetic. The study’s extreme proportions create fascination and passion for performance – that’s what AMG is all about. The Vision AMG is an impressive embodiment of the brand’s dual polarity – the interplay of beauty and the extraordinary. At the same time, elements from the future, such as the light signatures with the illuminated high-tech grille, underscore the progressive evolution of our design language of Sensual Purity.”
“With its contrasting modern surfacing and radical proportions, this car showcases the next design step, building on the VISION EQXX and moving further towards performance luxury. The seamless flow of beautifully formed surfaces and the monolithic sculpture complete the powerful aesthetic of the Vision AMG. The result is an electric supercar, a style icon that stimulates desire – and that’s exactly what sets a luxury sports car apart,” concluded Wagener.
