Mercedes AMG concept car breaks multiple distance records

With the electric Concept AMG GT XX, Mercedes-Benz has provided a glimpse of a future four-door production sports car. The concept car is now said to have broken a total of 25 long-distance records on the high-speed test track in Nardò, southern Italy.

Among the best marks that Mercedes has now announced in a press release is the record for the longest distance ever covered by an electric vehicle within 24 hours. According to the Stuttgart-based company, the Concept AMG GT XX is said to have driven 5,479 kilometres in 24 hours – over 1,500 kilometres more than the previous record.

However, the prototype electric sports car did not stop after 24 hours. In fact, the car was on the road for seven days, 13 hours, 24 minutes and 7 seconds, interrupted only by short charging breaks. During this time, it covered 40,075 kilometres, which means that, mathematically speaking, it circled the globe once. On average, the AMG GT XX covered more than 5,300 kilometres per day, most of it at 300 km/h. This is made possible by a drive system with three axial flow motors, which are said to be characterised by high continuous power.

Mercedes had already undertaken a similar test drive in Nardò with a pre-production model of the new CLA, covering 3,717 kilometres in 24 hours, with 40 precisely calculated charging stops. At the time, the CLA was simply travelling at its maximum speed of 210 kph – which, according to the simulations carried out in advance, was simply the fastest option despite the higher consumption.

Not so with the Concept AMG GT XX: this vehicle is capable of even higher speeds. However, even higher speeds would have resulted in a significant increase in fuel consumption. The simulation carried out in advance was also decisive here: ‘These analyses showed that 300 km/h offers the best balance between track speed and charging cycles – and thus enables the fastest overall time,’ according to Mercedes. All records can be found in the tables at the end of the article.

Not only was one Concept AMG GT XX on the track, but two vehicles were running in parallel – after more than 40,000 kilometres, both vehicles were only 25 kilometres apart. Several experienced racing drivers took turns at the wheel, each driving for two hours before being relieved. “As an F1 driver, I’m used to pushing technology to its absolute limits – the CONCEPT AMG GT XX really impressed me,” says Mercedes Formula 1 driver George Russell, who also took part in the record-breaking run. “The axial flux motors respond as immediately and precisely as a Formula 1 drivetrain, but with an endurance that I have only ever experienced with combustion engines. This technology will revolutionise the driving experience – both on the racetrack and on the road.”

The concept car was unveiled in June as a preview of the AMG.EA platform made headlines not only with its peak power output of up to 1,000 kW and top speed of 360 kph, but also with its charging capacity: The cylindrical cells with NMCA cell chemistry are said to be capable of charging at up to 850 kW, which corresponds to power for 400 WLTP kilometres in just five minutes. Mercedes is now even talking about “average charging power of around 850 kW – far beyond what today’s infrastructure can deliver.” A prototype charger from Alpitronic was installed in Nardò for the test. “This once again underscores the future-proof capabilities of this production-ready drivetrain. After each charging stop, the vehicle accelerated back to 300 kph – over and over, day and night, for eight relentless days,” according to Mercedes. The particular challenge for the drive, battery and charging station: during the day, temperatures reached over 35 degrees in the shade, and it was significantly hotter in the sun.

“In the 1970s and 1980s, Mercedes‑Benz was a regular guest here at Nardò, setting numerous international speed and track records – most notably with the C111 as a visionary technology program. Back then, we demonstrated the performance capabilities of innovative diesel and petrol powertrains,” says Mercedes’ Chief Technology Officer, Markus Schäfer. “Now, with the CONCEPT AMG GT XX technology programme, we are entering a new dimension of performance – this time with fully electric drive. The goal is to redefine the limits of what is technically possible in the age of electric drives. So what could be more fitting than to go chasing records once again?”

Records by distance

[1] Distance of Route 66
[2] Approximate distance of all races in a Formula 1 season
[3] Length of the Great Wall of China
[4] Circumference of the Earth at the equator

Records by time

mercedes-benz.com