Mercedes-AMG EV coming soon

When the first AMG-branded electric vehicle (EV) lobs, it will be fast but it won't be silent.

"Going forward, we will also electrify the vehicles made by Mercedes-AMG under the 'EQ Performance' label," said Daimler boss Ola Kallenius at the 2019 Frankfurt motor show overnight.

"The plans extend from performance-hybrids to the all-electric vehicles from Affalterbach," said Kallenius.

In a later interview, Mercedes-AMG chief Tobias Moers said the German performance brand’s first EV won't disappoint.

"The customers are going to buy the car if the performance is there. That's my attitude, that's my thinking," he declared.

"We have a lot of discussions with customers but if you deliver the performance, which is expected in our segment …. in combination with a certain range of pure electric drive, and instant power output of the powertrain, capable on the racetrack as well, usable everyday. There's nothing wrong with that."

The Mercedes-Benz EQS concept has a (theoretical) 700km range but an AMG-developed 'EQ Performance' EV will almost certainly offer less, although it will have a unique sound.

"It could sound like a V8. But this feels really strange. It's stupid," he said.

"We discuss the progress of this, and where to move. You can filter the sound, pull out frequencies, make them more dominant, things like that. But if you have a high-power car with a lot of torque, you're going to end up with a low frequency [sound]," he revealed.

Mores said that AMG is also considering allowing owners to customise the audio of their vehicles.

Porsche lays claim to the most dynamic mainstream EV available today.

"Taycan sets the bar, that's for sure."

The straight-talking AMG executive wouldn’t be drawn on whether it would have higher performance parameters than the new Porsche Taycan, which pumps out 560kW/1050Nm and blasts to 100km/h in 2.8 seconds.

Asked if the AMG EV would raise the bar he grinned, "I don't know?"

"Acceleration is not the biggest differentiator in the new [EV] world. Because all electric-driven cars, it's easy to have AWD, and electric motor power output is instant, torque is instant.

“The biggest differentiator, as of now … [are] the driving dynamics, the behaviour, the interaction between driver and car. That makes the difference in my perspective."

AMG has its hands full at the moment developing its first plug-in hybrid model, the Mercedes-AMG GT 73 super sedan that will lob in 2020 with a sub-3.0sec 0-100km/h time.

It is also working hard to ready the 350km/h and 500kW-plus Mercedes-AMG ONE (pictured here in concept form), an F1-inspired plug-in hybrid hypercar that's faced a number of delays due to its complexity.

So when can expect AMG's first EV?

"It's too early to say," said Moers.