It is a colossal challenge taken up by Mercedes: more than a week of rolling in Italy with the key to a palanque of beaten records. In high point: 5,479 km covered in 24 hours, more than 1,500 km better than the old record for an electric vehicle, and especially the equivalent of a complete lap on the planet (40,075 km) in just 7 days, 13 hours, 24 minutes and 7 seconds – well below the lens set at eight days.
The challenge, led by a team of elite pilots, saw two poster heads shining at the wheel of the GT XX: George Russell, Mercedes in F1, and Doriane Pin, rising star of F1 Academy and supported by Mercedes. Both have taken turns in the company of a dozen pilots – including Sebastian Vettel’s brother – on the Nardò ring, for more than 3,000 laps in total, divided between two prototypes that shone by the reliability of their revolutionary motorcycle groups. “As a F1 driver, I used to push the limits of technology – the AMG GT XX concept really impressed me. Axial flow motors react with the same immediacy and the same precision as a formula 1 transmission, but with endurance that I only knew with combustion engines. This technology will revolutionize the driving experience, on a circuit and on the road, “said Russell, impressed by the potential of the prototype.
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Russell and Pin headlining
Behind this feat: a rupture technology. Three axial flow engines developing more than 1,360 hp, associated with a battery directly cooled by oil, allowed the GT XX to run day and night at 300 km/h, with flash recharges at 850 kW. In just five minutes, it can recharge enough energy for an autonomy of approximately 400 kilometers. This record program recalls the big hours of the C111 prototypes of the 70s and 80s, but in an electric version. “Our mission is to redefine performance standards in the electric era,” said Markus Schäfer, member of the Mercedes-Benz Management Board. “The motivation and dedication of the multidisciplinary team of Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz Mobility and our F1 motor experts at Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains have made considerable efforts throughout the preparation phase. I am extremely proud of the unprecedented performance of the whole team during this unique record, “he continued.
Thanks to Russell, Pin and a team of international pilots, but especially thanks to its impeccable reliability, the AMG GT XX concept has not only broken records – it allowed Mercedes to make a superb communication stroke.