AMG Planning Electric Models to Battle the Porsche Taycan

AMG hopes to double sales with hybrid and all-electric versions of multiple Mercedes-Benz performance models.

AMG is arguably the best-known performance sub-brand in the world, offering high powered models for many of the Mercedes-Benz cars and sport utility vehicles. However, as the brand moves forward, they want to double sales without doubling the carbon footprint and the only way to do that is to introduce more electrification. Fortunately, while speaking with Manager Magazin, Daimler boss Ola Källenius outlined some vague plans for the future of the AMG brand, with lots of electrification.

Electric First Mantra for AMG

According to Electrive, Källenius explained that Mercedes-Benz will roll out their new corporate strategy in November, and the focus of that new plan is “electric first”. Among other goals, the AMG brand hopes to double sales in the near future, but they can’t do so with a lineup of big, powerful V8 engines with forced induction. AMG already contributes a significant amount of CO2 emissions to the corporate footprint and in doubling sales, that contribution would obviously go way up if they all had twin turbocharged V8.

AMG is already working on a variant of the four-door GT super sedan that will offer hybrid power, coupling with powerful V8 with at least one electric motor, but it could feature a dual-electric motor setup. That hybrid is a great first step, but the success of the AMG lineup will require far more. Fortunately, the smaller Benz vehicles would make for even better hybrid models, so the high performance brand has a tremendous amount of potential to introduce fun-to-drive hybrids.

However, the company also plans to challenge Porsche’s new Taycan electric sport sedan. It is unclear which Mercedes sedan would serve as the base for the Taycan-fighter, but there are several options. The E63, S65 and GT 63 would all fit in the fight with the electric Porsche, and we could conceivably see electric versions of all three over time, but in the near future, the GT sedan seems like the best fit.

Why Electrification?

In the early days of hybrid and all-electric automotive technology, the systems were designed purely for efficient driving, which often led to unpleasant driving dynamics that simply wouldn’t work for the AMG brand. Things have changed a great deal over the past few years, with an array of high performance hybrids being joined by pure electric models that offer world class performance.

The Porsche Taycan is the best example of these advancement in electric vehicle technology outside of all-electric companies like Tesla. Porsche has proven that an EV can offer great range and impressive performance, making it seem more likely that the future of the auto industry is electrification. If they Taycan proves to be as successful as the Tesla Model S in terms of sales volume, only to be joined by AMG with similar high performance models, we could see a huge boom in go-fast EVs in the near decade.

Photos: Mercedes-Benz

Join the MB World forums now!

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

Facebook   Twitter