Mercedes-Benz presented a concept for an electric hypercar incorporating technology that will be available to customers from next year as the manufacturer pushes further into next-generation vehicles.
Created by the automaker’s AMG division, the GT XX is the first prototype built on Mercedes’ upcoming electric sports-car platform, allowing the German company to showcase technology that will go into road cars from 2026.
This includes a high-performance battery and a trio of ultra-compact motors to achieve the sort of power normally reserved for racetracks.
The GT XX can top 220 miles per hour and has more than 1,300 horsepower, making it the most powerful Mercedes ever — even more than the €2.5 million limited edition AMG One.
“We’re bringing groundbreaking technology that redefines high performance,” said Michael Schiebe, CEO of Mercedes-AMG.
The timing is no accident. Mercedes is heading into a high-stakes summer as it starts selling its new electric CLA sedan at more than €50,000 — well above similar Chinese rivals.
If the CLA fails to resonate with buyers, it could intensify doubts about Chief Executive Officer Ola Källenius’ strategy to push the brand further upmarket for the electric age.
While not destined for production, the automaker hopes the GT XX will help win back enthusiasts, generate buzz around its broader EV lineup, and signal that the three-pointed star still carries emotional appeal in the era of electrification.
Mercedes isn’t alone in developing a high-powered EV. Ferrari NV is preparing to unveil its first electric supercar later this year, while Porsche continues to invest in Taycan variants.
Chinese automakers like BYD Co. are also rapidly scaling up their own performance platforms at a fraction of the price, giving buyers more reasons to look beyond traditional brands.
At the same time, EV momentum is fading. Mercedes’ fully-electric sales dropped 14% in the first quarter, even after launching a battery-powered version of its luxury G-Class sport utility vehicle.
A new lineup of hybrid performance models also underwhelmed, prompting the company to continue investing in new gasoline engines for AMG’s core customers.
Cult Status
The GT XX is meant to flip the narrative by leaning into Mercedes’ performance heritage with AMG, which began in the 1960s as a two-man outfit working out of a garage near Stuttgart.
The division earned cult status for outrageous builds like the “Red Pig,” a race-modified S-Class that stunned rivals at endurance events and helped define the brand’s identity around large engines and aggressive styling.
Acquired by Mercedes in 2005, AMG is now trying to reframe that legacy for the electric age.
The GT XX has three axial-flux electric motors developed by Yasa, a UK startup bought by Mercedes in 2021.
These motors are lighter and more compact than traditional units, and have already powered hypercars like the Koenigsegg Regera and Ferrari SF90.
The concept also uses a new high-performance battery developed with engineers from the Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 team that can recharge 400 kilometers of range in about five minutes.
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