The performance division of Mercedes-Benz known as AMG has revealed details of their new drive strategy that includes performance hybrids and battery electric derivatives of AMG. The future of electric and performance drivetrain is the result of the close cooperation between Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-AMG High-Performance Powertrains and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. The brand reveals that not only the Project ONE hypercar benefits from the Formula 1 hybrid technology bring it to the road, the brand will also be bringing electrified road models later this year. The brand will be bringing high-performance hybrids with an independent drive concept called E Performance as well as battery electric AMG derivatives underpinned by the Mercedes Electric Vehicle Architecture (EVA) for the luxury and premium class vehicles.
The independent E Performance drivetrain brings signature driving performance and dynamics along with efficiency. The team is able to significantly improve the performance due to the additional electric motor and also achieve lower emissions as well as fuel consumption improving the efficiency of the vehicle. The vehicle architecture also supports external vehicle charging at wall box, home or and public charging station. The brand is combining eight-cylinder AMG engines as well as four-cylinder AMG engine with permanently excited synchronous electric motor and high-performance battery packs. The electric motor alone is able to generate 320 Nm of torque depending on the model.
The AMG Performance Hybrid drivetrain is capable of 805 Hp of power and 1000 Nm of torque and depending on the vehicle the powertrain will be able to propel the car from 0 to 100 kmph in less than 3.0 seconds. Both the four- and eight-cylinder performance hybrids also receive a belt-driven starter-alternator as standard that produces another 14 Hp of power. The eight-cylinder powertrain will use the existing 4.0-litre V8 Biturbo AMG engine.
The M139 2.0-litre four-cylinder AMG engine will be thoroughly reworked and an electric exhaust-gas turbocharger will be used for the first time in a production vehicle. The MGU-H (Motor Generator Unit Heat) technology comes directly from Formula 1 and is also under service on the AMG Project One. The engine which is conventional installed transversely will position itself longitudinally. The engine will make 442 Hp of power along with a 201 Hp electric motor. The hybrid four-cylinder drivetrain will initially make its debut on the future generation of the Mercedes-AMG C-Class.
Mercedes-AMG is also developing all-battery-electric vehicles based on the upcoming Mercedes-EQ electric cars. The first battery-electric AMG models are based on the electro-exclusive Mercedes-EQ architecture and the brand has announced that the market launch will take place before the end of this year. The AMG models will come with thoroughly redesigned exteriors with AMG wheels in Aero or Heritage design, specific radiator grille with vertical louvres, new front and rear aprons, independent rear with spoiler lip and diffuser as well as AMG Performance steering wheel, AMG-specific functions and displays for the MBUX, sporty interiors, etc.