Mercedes-AMG Admits Mid-Engine Hypercar a Possibility
Mercedes-AMG has admitted that a mid-engine hypercar is a possibility for the luxury sports brand.
Speaking to Top Gear, AMG head Tobias Moers admitted that a “hypercar is always a credible business case,” and that from an engineering perspective, AMG could make something. The big question is how interested the Mercedes sub-brand is in a mid-engine sports car that would compete with the McLaren 650S or even the hotter P1 and if it would be worth the time and investment.
“It’s always a task to step into something you haven’t been in,” states Moers. “A year ago we didn’t have the speciality to do that thing, but now we do.”
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AMG has only ever worked on front-engine cars and although Moers admits there would be engineering challenges to develop a mid-engine hypercar, the AMG team has not only grown substantially over the last two decades, but gained plenty of experience while developing the new AMG GT and GT S models. Plus, the Mercedes-AMG F1 team’s recent success has potentially strengthened the business case for a mid-engine offering.
Although it’s pure speculation at this time, an AMG hypercar sporting a mid-engine setup would surely be turbocharged and even possibly electrified. The company created the SLS Electric Drive in 2013, packing 740 horsepower and driven by four individual electric motors, proving that AMG isn’t entirely stuck on conventional powerplants.
[Source: Top Gear]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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Will AMG buy Pagani?
Mercedes been on the role lately and I would like for them to build a mid-engine car to do battle from R8 to 488 GTB. Should be interesting.