Mercedes-AMG secretly readying flagship 73 model line
New trademark submitted by car maker suggests performance division may expand its offering, including plans for a S 73 and G 73Mercedes-AMG is hatching a plan to offer even more powerful versions of its S-Class, GLS SUV and recently launched G-wagen, it has been revealed.
According to a patent, submitted to the European Union Patent and Trademark Office by parent company Daimler, the German car maker's high-performance division has trademarked the use of the 'S 73', 'GLS 73' and 'G 73' for future use in European markets.
This has led to wild speculation AMG is readying an all-new powertrain that will offer unprecedented levels of output.
It's not known whether the car maker plans to overhaul the old M275 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 or to offer a high-output version of its current M178 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8.
It's the latter option that seems most likely, with the car maker expected to add a pair of larger turbos and intercoolers and its 48-volt mild hybrid technology. But some suggest to get such high-power outputs the range-topping engine could rely on a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
Whatever the case, expect power to be boosted from 450kW/850Nm in its Mercedes-AMG E 63 S application to around 600kW/1000Nm.
As well as the new flagship AMG derivative, the new patents also suggest the 'AMG 63' model line will live on under the bonnets of the GLC, GLE and GLS.
Similar patents were filed for a CLA 53, GLA 53 and GLB 53, although, as some commentators have pointed out, it's not clear how Benz will be able to package the new 320kW/520Nm turbocharged 3.0-litre in a transverse application since the introduction of the new in-line mild hybrid powertrain will be too long to fit in an A-Class-based vehicle.
More confusion surrounds a trademark filed for an 'AMG 50' series and 'AMG 40' series, hinting at a new four-cylinder turbocharged engine with two power outputs.
Filed on September 24 last year the trademark and patent applications are thought to predict the next five years of AMG models.
The first (and only) time the '73 AMG' model name was used occurred between 1997 and 2001, for the R129 Mercedes SL 73 AMG.
Based on a bored-out version of the M120 5.9-litre V12, the huge 7.3-litre naturally-aspirated V12 produced around 390kW.
With just 85 units of the SL 73 sold, the same engine went on to find fame with Italian hypercar maker, Pagani, which chose it to power its Zonda.
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