The Mercedes-AMG GT XX concept managed to set new records, not only for electric cars: 5,479 km covered in 24 hours and 40,075 km covered in just over 7 days, which represents an average of more than 5,300 km per day.
Mercedes wanted to confirm the outstanding reliability of its new high-performance electric AMG.EA platform, which underpins the Mercedes-AMG GT XX concept. To this end, the company organized an intensive endurance test on the famous Nardò circuit in Italy, where the Mercedes-AMG GT XX set no fewer than 25 new records.
Behind the wheel were 17 racing drivers, including Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team’s Formula 1 driver George Russell. Two Mercedes-AMG GT XX prototypes took part in the test, finishing less than 25 km apart after covering 40,000 km.
The most important record was the 24-hour one, with the Mercedes-AMG GT XX covering 5,479 km in 24 hours—1,518 km more than any previous record, which had been just under 4,000 km.
The second record was completing the equivalent of a trip around the world in less than 8 days. Jules Verne wrote the book Around the World in 80 Days in 1873. Now, more than 150 years later, Mercedes has achieved the impossible: covering this distance in over ten times less time — that is, in under 8 days.”
The Mercedes-AMG GT XX covered 40,075 km (24,901 miles)—the Earth’s circumference at the equator—in 7 days, 13 hours, 24 minutes, and 7 seconds. This equates to an average of 5,300 km per 24 hours, with many of those kilometers driven at 300 kph. To cover 5,300 km per day, the Mercedes-AMG GT XX completed 3,177 laps of the 12.68 km circuit, in conditions where daytime temperatures reached as high as 35°C.
How was it possible to cover such a long distance in such a short time? The drivers kept speeds as constant as possible at around 300 kph, taking advantage of the Nardò circuit’s high-speed layout. However, these performances would not have been possible without ultra-fast charging.
The Mercedes-AMG GT XX charged at around 850 kW—far beyond the capabilities of today’s charging networks—demonstrating the potential of the AMG.EA platform. This means that in just 5 minutes, enough energy can be added for about 400 km, according to the WLTP cycle.
The Mercedes-AMG GT XX is powered by three electric motors delivering more than 1,000 kW (1,360 PS). The rear axle features two oil-cooled axial flux motors, each combined with a compact gearbox and an inverter in a single housing. The front electric motor acts as a booster, engaging only when additional power or traction is required.
The battery pack uses cylindrical NCMA cells with a power density of over 300 Wh/kg thanks to their tall and narrow format. The 3,000-cell battery is housed in a laser-welded aluminum casing, and the cells are cooled with an electrically non-conductive oil.
