Mercedes-AMG Concept GT XX Shatters EV Endurance Records
Mercedes-AMG raises the bar with the CONCEPT AMG GT XX and extends a decades-long tradition of pushing automotive engineering to the limit.
From historic motorsport victories to legendary lap records on race and test tracks, the performance brand from Affalterbach has always pursued ultimate performance. Mercedes-AMG reaffirmed this commitment just last year with the lap record of the Mercedes-AMG ONE on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. Since October 2022, the hypercar has remained the fastest production vehicle on the iconic circuit, even beating its own benchmark.
The CONCEPT AMG GT XX builds on this legacy and showcases the superior performance of the upcoming AMG.EA high-performance electric architecture. Engineers are powering the technology pioneer with revolutionary drivetrain systems, set to enter production with AMG.EA next year. Three axial-flux motors and a directly cooled high-performance battery deliver a new dimension of power and endurance for an electric hypercar. Mercedes-AMG has already proven this under extremely tough conditions, echoing record runs of the past with tomorrow’s technology.
At the legendary high-speed test track in Nardò, Italy, where the world’s fastest cars have run for decades, the CONCEPT AMG GT XX broke 25 long-distance records. The team also set the record for the greatest distance covered by an electric vehicle within 24 hours. The previous mark sat below 4,000 kilometres. The CONCEPT AMG GT XX went far further, travelling 5,479 kilometres in 24 hours, which is 1,518 kilometres more, or about 38 per cent further, than the previous best.
This feat was one highlight among many. The extreme test continued well beyond 24 hours with a mission to drive around the world in eight days, designed to prove the long-distance strength of the AMG electric drivetrain. The challenge name nodded to Jules Verne’s “Around the World in 80 Days”.
The team ran an exceptionally demanding schedule. High-load driving and high-speed charging cycles place the greatest strain on motors and the battery, so the crew repeated this scenario continuously. Drivers held a constant 300 km/h and stopped only to recharge at average power levels around 850 kW, far beyond what today’s charging infrastructure offers, which underlines the future-proof capability of this production-ready drivetrain. After each charging stop, the car accelerated back to 300 km/h again and again, day and night, for eight relentless days.
Engineers deliberately set the speed after extensive simulations. Their analysis identified 300 km/h as the optimal balance between lap speed and charging stops, which produced the fastest overall time.
In the early morning of 25 August 2025, the team completed the mission. The car covered 40,075 kilometres (24,901 miles) in exactly 7 days, 13 hours, 24 minutes and 07 seconds, beating the eight-day target by a wide margin. Along the way, the CONCEPT AMG GT XX set additional performance records and reached a further milestone at 25,000 miles.
Two CONCEPT AMG GT XX vehicles mastered this marathon. Both set off together and demonstrated remarkable endurance. After more than seven and a half days of running and a complete circumnavigation each, they crossed the finish line just 25 kilometres apart, barely two laps of the Nardò proving ground. Completing the around-the-world challenge twice within eight days underscores the long-term performance capability of the powertrain.
The programme demanded 3,177 laps of the 12.68-kilometre Nardò circuit. Experienced racing drivers took two-hour stints in a round-the-clock run. On average, the CONCEPT AMG GT XX covered more than 5,300 kilometres per day. Conditions were far from gentle. Daytime ambient temperatures reached 35 degrees Celsius in the shade and climbed higher on the exposed track, yet the revolutionary electric powertrain ran flawlessly throughout.
Teamwork proved decisive. The pit crew managed charging and tyre changes with precision, supported by continuous fire and rescue services and a remote support room in Affalterbach connected to Nardò via remote diagnostics. External specialists, including tyre supplier Michelin and charging-station expert Alpitronic, completed the expert crew.
“Mercedes-AMG and Formula 1 stand for innovation, intense competition, and pushing the boundaries of what is technically possible. Our company’s powertrains achieved groundbreaking successes in the very first road races in automotive history more than 120 years ago and have set benchmarks for decades. In the 1970s and 1980s, Mercedes-Benz was a regular guest here at Nardò, setting numerous international speed and track records - most notably with the C111 as a visionary technology program. Back then, we demonstrated the performance capabilities of innovative diesel and petrol powertrains. Now, with the CONCEPT AMG GT XX technology programme, we are entering a new dimension of performance – this time with fully electric drive. The goal is to redefine the limits of what is technically possible in the age of electric drives. So what could be more fitting than to go chasing records once again? Our mission: to redefine the very standards of performance with groundbreaking technologies and innovations. The motivation and dedication of the cross-functional team from Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz Mobility, and our F1 engine experts at Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains throughout the entire preparation phase were boundless. I am immensely proud of the unprecedented achievement of the entire team in this unique record drive,” said Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. Chief Technology Officer, Development & Purchasing.
“Its drivetrain has always defined an AMG. In the electric world, too, our drive system must be convincing across the board. That's why we’re the first manufacturer to use axial flux motors and directly cooled batteries in fully electric models. We have now impressively demonstrated how superior these technologies are. Enormous performance and high-speed charging were always available and made these records possible. For customers of our future electric models, this means they will get a genuine AMG – no ifs, no buts. My heartfelt thanks go to the entire team – we’re delighted that we can also count on the best team in the automotive industry when it comes to electric performance,” exclaimed Michael Schiebe, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH and Head of Mercedes-Benz G-Class & Mercedes-Maybach divisions at Mercedes-Maybach.
“As an F1 driver, I'm used to pushing technology to its absolute limits – the CONCEPT AMG GT XX really impressed me. The axial flux motors respond as immediately and precisely as a Formula 1 drivetrain, but with an endurance that I have only ever experienced with combustion engines. This technology will revolutionise the driving experience – both on the racetrack and on the road,” said George Russell, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 team driver.
A three-motor axial-flux drive concept and a high-performance battery developed from scratch enabled continuous electric power and ultra-fast charging. The team pushed the CONCEPT AMG GT XX to its limits throughout testing at Nardò, achieving a level of sustained performance previously unthinkable for electric vehicles. Even under extreme running, the battery systems stayed within the optimum temperature window, which ensured on-track performance and enabled extremely rapid charging.
The axial-flux motors are more compact and lighter yet significantly more potent than conventional electric motors, with roughly three times the power density. This configuration delivers top-level driving performance that teams can reproduce frequently and reliably.
The CONCEPT AMG GT XX produces a peak output of over 1,000 kW, more than 1,360 hp. Three innovative motors sit within high-performance electric drive units (HP.EDU) on the front and rear axles. The rear axle houses two oil-cooled axial-flux motors combined with compact gearboxes and one inverter each in a single housing. The front electric drive acts as a booster and engages on demand to add power or traction.
Axial-flux motors offer significant advantages over conventional designs. They deliver higher continuous output and greater torque while weighing less and requiring only a third of the installation space.
British electric motor specialist YASA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz AG, created the foundation for these groundbreaking motors. Mercedes-AMG, working closely with YASA, has elevated the concept to a new performance level for series production in AMG.EA vehicles.
The high-performance battery is a clean-sheet development from Affalterbach, inspired by Formula 1®. It delivers high power repeatedly and contributes to the car’s outstanding overall performance. Newly developed cylindrical NCMA cells, arranged in a tall and narrow format, offer efficient cooling and an energy density of over 300 Wh/kg. A laser-welded aluminium cell housing improves electrical and thermal conductivity and enhances robustness and longevity.
An electrically non-conductive oil directly cools the battery cells and regulates the temperature of each of the more than 3,000 cells. This approach ensures even heat dissipation and supports high continuous-power capability. A voltage of over 800 volts reduces weight through lighter cabling and shortens charging times, while intelligent thermal management precisely controls cell temperatures to maintain maximum performance under intensive use.
The CONCEPT AMG GT XX also charges extremely quickly. The technology platform accepts over 850 kW across a wide span of the charging curve. In five minutes, it can recharge enough energy for about 400 kilometres (WLTP)2, roughly the distance from Nardò to Naples.
Together, these achievements stand as records for a battery-electric vehicle and signal what the next generation of Mercedes-AMG electric performance will deliver.
