Mercedes Benz AMG in Electric Vehicle (EV)

Some time ago, we reported of an electric-powered Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG being given the go-ahead for production. The numbers we had were 526 hp and 880 Nm of torque, which were enough to leave us stunned.

Today we nearly fell off our chairs, for the latest official figures are 740 hp and 1,000 Nm of torque – all from a vehicle with no explosions under its bonnet. In comparison, the petrol-powered SLS AMG GT manages 591 hp and 650 Nm.

Unveiled recently at the Paris motor show, the SLS AMG Electric Drive is touted as the most powerful production EV, as well as the most powerful AMG model, the world has ever seen. It will hit 100 km/h from a standstill in a little under four seconds and proceed to a limited top speed of 250 km/h.



It’s no concept, either – the zero-emissions gullwing coupe is scheduled to hit markets next year. The starting price in Germany will be a cool €416,500 (RM1.6 million). Oh, and before you ask, that body finish is blue chrome. We didn’t know chrome could be had in any other colour except… chrome.

The power comes from four synchronous permanent-magnet electric motors that selectively drive the four wheels through two transmissions (one serving each pair of motors). They’re mounted on the axles rather than in the wheel hubs; Mercedes says wheel hub motors can result in “considerable unsprung masses.” Being electric, power delivery is linear and max torque is available from a standstill – yes, all 1,000 Nm of it.

Feeding the motors is a 60 kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery that generates 400 volts at peak, yielding a 250 km range. It alone weighs a little over half a tonne, so Mercedes has had to adopt a lightweight aluminium and carbon fibre monocoque construction, as well as carbon-ceramic brake discs, to keep the calories in check.



An eerily quiet car cannot be an AMG car, and to that end its engineers have developed a soundtrack that’s piped in through the 11-speaker sound system. The sound is dependent on the driving situation and operating state, in addition to load conditions and road and engine speed. There’s even a start-up sound!

Out go the petrol-engined car’s front double wishbones to be replaced by an independent multi-link suspension with pushrod dampers. The front wheels are 19-inchers shod in 265/35 rubber while the rears are 20-inch, 295/30s.

We never thought we would live to see the words ‘AMG’ and ‘EV’ in the same sentence, but the motor industry never keeps still, does it?