Mercedes AMG has revealed an unusual piece of tech on its new four-door EV concept.
Concept GT XX has speakers pumping synthesised engine sounds from the headlights.
The fake combustion soundtrack also works to alert pedestrians to the XX’s presence.
When the first pictures of Mercedes-AMG’s new Concept AMG GT XX landed yesterday, the headlights seemed the least interesting thing about it when there was so much else to grab our attention. But those rather ordinary-looking headlights are hiding one of the XX’s most interesting features, and it’s got nothing to do with LEDs and light beams.
Because in the rush to check out the eye-catching rear lights, the digital display board mounted between them, the glass-free rear end and the aero wheel covers that can move in and out, it was easy to miss a mention of an unusual addition to the front light units designed not to help the concept see, but be seen – or heard.
Each of those lights has a loudspeaker fitted to its side surface to project fake engine sounds. The small speakers use the body of the headlight units as a traditional speaker cavity to amplify the bass frequencies, something essential if, like AMG, you want to replicate the growl of a classic V8.
Those riding in the car, which previews next year’s production AMG GT, a rival to the Porsche Taycan, will also hear sounds, though they’ll be delivered through the cabin speakers. The ones at the front are designed to be heard by people outside the XX, which is essentially Mercedes admitting that EVs’ naturally silent personalities are too dull.
But the noises also serve another purpose besides letting the driver show off. EVs are required by law to make some external noise to warn pedestrians of their presence, and giving the XX a moody growl seems like a more appropriate way of doing that in a 1,341 hp (1,360 PS / 1,000 kW) EV than some random bings and bongs.
AMG says the concept’s three Yasa motors deliver a 224 mph (460 kmh) top speed, and the 114 kWh battery could theoretically charge at more than 850 kW, which would add 249 miles (400 km) of range in just 5 minutes. Although there are no public chargers that fast in Europe or America, the Chinese have developed some, and Mercedes is confident they’ll become the norm in the future.
Mercedes revealed the AMG GT XX concept previewing next year’s production performance sedan.
It features a high-tech battery and a tri-motor axial flux powertrain producing more than 1,341 hp.
The concept rides on the AMG.EA platform made of aluminum, steel, and fiber composite materials.
Mercedes-AMG is going electric and they’re doing it in a big way with the GT XX concept. It’s an insane four-door coupe with three axial flux motors producing a combined output in excess of 1,341 hp (1,000 kW / 1,360 PS).
Designed to preview the redesigned AMG GT 4-Door, the concept is a huge departure from its predecessor. Besides going electric, the model has an odd exterior that will undoubtedly attract a mixed reaction.
The fish-like front end is dominated by a massive grille that spans nearly the entire width of the vehicle. It’s so wide that designers had to incorporate the auxiliary lights into it.
Further above, there are stacked headlights and a motorsport-inspired hood with split air outlets. Elsewhere, we can see a subtle splitter that flows into the outside edges of vertical air curtains.
Designers gave the concept a rakish windscreen, which meets a coupe-like roofline. This results in a compact greenhouse, which is notable for eschewing a rear window like the Polestar 4.
Aside from gun slit windows, the model has flush-mounted door handles and 21-inch aero wheels. The latter have sections that open and close to balance aerodynamics with brake cooling. They’re joined by sporty side skirts that have “luminescent paint segments,” which “emit light in response to an alternating current.”
The rear end is a little plain, but features muscular haunches and an active airbrake. They’re joined by a carbon fiber diffuser and six circular LED taillights. However, the concept is more notable for being equipped with an MBUX Fluid Light Panel, which has more than 700 programmable RGB LEDs. This enables communication with the outside world via text or animation.
Rounding out the highlights are exterior speakers tucked into the headlights, designed to “emit driving sounds”. Mercedes hasn’t shared any specifics, but a recent teaser showed a prototype of the production car pumping out fake engine noise that sounded like a V8.
The concept, finished in a vibrant Sunset Beam orange paint, also boasts an impressively low drag coefficient of 0.198.
A Minimalist Interior Lacking In Luxury
While Mercedes used to be all about leather and wood, the interior of the GT XX resembles a racing simulator. This feel is amplified by a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14-inch infotainment system, and a compact steering wheel inspired by the AMG One.
Elsewhere, there’s a unique center console with illuminated orange tubes that are designed to recall voltage cables. The concept also has carbon fiber seats, an exposed carbon fiber roof, and a floor covering made from 100% recycled materials.
Designers gave the car a minimalist dashboard and metal components that are part computer, part Back to the Future. They’re joined by lightweight door panels that have integrated bars as well as orange pull loops.
A Powertrain That Hints At The Future
While the styling will undoubtedly draw attention, the most important details are hiding under the skin. That’s clear as the concept rides on the new AMG.EA platform and features a high-performance battery developed from scratch.
The three axial flux motors come from Yasa and offer a high output in an extremely compact package. They’ll go into production next year and be found on an assortment of upcoming AMG models including the new GT 4-Door and SUV.
Mercedes didn’t reveal many details about the motors, but confirmed one is mounted up front while two reside out back. This gives the concept a fully variable all-wheel drive system as well as a combined output in excess of 1,341 hp (1,000 kW / 1,360 PS). That’s enough to enable the car to hit a top speed of more than 223 mph (359 km/h).
The motors aren’t the only interesting development as the concept has a high-performance NCMA battery that has an anode with silicon content. Mercedes said It offers an energy density of 300 Wh/kg as well as a long lifespan.
Delving a little deeper, the battery has cylindrical cells and a laser-welded aluminum cell housing. These developments promise weight savings as well as rapid heat dissipation. Speaking of the latter, the battery also has a “high-tech coolant” that “flows around each individual cell to maintain the optimum temperature.”
Fast applies to more than just acceleration as the concept can gain approximately 249 miles (400 km) of range in around five minutes. That’s impressively quick and this was made possible thanks to a “very high average charging power of more than 850 kW.”
Since that’s many times higher than traditional DC fast chargers, Mercedes teamed up with Alpitronic to develop a prototype charging station. While the production model likely won’t be nearly as impressive, the company said they’ll expand the Mercedes‑Benz Charging Network with next-generation chargers that deliver “extremely fast charging times.”
As for the AMG.EA platform, it uses a mix of aluminum, steel and fiber composite materials to offer lightness and “exceptional rigidity.” Mercedes also noted the electric skateboard architecture enables the battery to be centrally integrated into the structure to offer a high level of crash safety.
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