AMG considering supercar

Mercedes-Benz performance leader AMG is studying the development of an all-wheel drive supercar with sub-three second 0-100km/h acceleration performance.

The company’s engine and powertrain chief Friedrich ‘Fritz’ Eichler confirmed the project was being considered during an interview at AMG’s Affalterbach headquarters in Germany last week.

Measured on that 0-100km/h performance capability, an AMG supercar would be in elite territory with the likes of the Bugatti Veyron, and well ahead of the current SLS AMG, which is a sub-four-second 0-100km/h performer.

And if it is a goer it means AMG has two mouth-watering sportscar developments on the books, with the SLC rival for the Porsche 911 said to be headed for sale in 2014 after the SLS ends its run.

Mr Eichler made his comments during a wide-ranging technical discussion about AMG’s commitment to all-wheel drive, the forthcoming SLS electric sportscar and how AMG planned to increase petrol-engined performance while delivering better economy and CO2 efficiency.

“If you want to be a member in the club of cars that achieve 0-100km/h in less than three seconds then you have to think about four-wheel drive for sportscars,” Mr Eichler said.

The current SLS AMG is front/mid-engined, driving the rear-wheels via a transaxle. The smaller SLC will be based on the same drivetrain layout and same aluminium spaceframe.

“We do a lot of consideration for the future and we of course think about all-wheel drive and all-wheel drive sportscar … It’s quite interesting. It is a lot of fun, a lot of different topics for such a small team. That is why we are working all day and all night.

“It is a lot of fun, it is much better than other jobs.”

Mr Eichler said a rear-engined layout such as a Porsche 911 would be the logical layout for a rear-wheel drive supercar, but warned against the disadvantages that also produced.

“It is difficult to change from oversteering into understeering and it is difficult to drive. I was employed at Porsche for eight years before I changed to AMG so I know the cars quite well.

“Maybe a rear mid-engine is also okay, but it takes away a lot of space. It is not very convenient.”

He said a front-engined AMG all-wheel drive supercar car should retain a transaxle, although he conceded drive transfer was a significant challenge, dismissing the design employed by the Nissan GT-R and not won over by the Ferrari FF.

“You know what the Nissan GT-R did? These shafts - one running back, one running forward again - I don’t like that. We have to find the solution.

“The FF… when you start the car and up to a vehicle speed of 160km/h you are still in a (clutch) slip situation, which is very ineffective. Inefficiency is bad. It is not a good solution for us but a step in the right direction.”

Mr Eichler said a petrol-electric hybrid all-wheel drive combination would be possible in the future, although it would require an all-new design because electric motors would drive the front wheels and an internal combustion engine the rears.

“You would always have electrification on the front wheels because if the power and energy out of the battery which goes into the electric motors becomes less, then the car is still driveable from the rear in a very good way.

“A front-driving car is something for children!”

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