Mercedes-AMG introduces an electric rocketship that bucks the trend of automakers that are retreating from the EV space. Given the recent cancellation of numerous upcoming EVs—generating billions in losses—Mercedes-AMG is going against the grain.
The Mercedes high-performance division just took the wraps off a ground-up new electric model. There have been previous AMG EVs, but they were evolutions of existing Mercedes EVs. This new GT 4-Door is built on the new AMG.EA platform with several innovations.
It employs three axial-flux motors—one in front and two in the rear. The battery lies under the floor and uses vertically oriented cylindrical cells and oil cooling. And while it's a pure EV, it can emulate a powerful AMG V-8, complete with a convincing soundtrack and simulated gearchanges.
View Price on AmazonThe axial-flux motors in this GT 4-Door are fundamentally different than radial-flux designs, because their magnetic fields are parallel to the motor's axis, rather than at right angles. The motors have three basic parts: a stationary stator that looks like a wire-infested clutch in the middle, flanked by a pair of iron rotors that look a little bit like brake discs on each side.
The advantages of the axial-flux design are small size and light weight. The front motor is about 3.5 inches thick and, coupled to a single-speed spur-gear transmission with a disconnect, weighs 176 pounds. The front motor, which can hit a peak of over 15,000 rpm at top speed, is only used when traction, substantial performance, or high regenerative braking is required.
In the back, the GT 4-Door has two axial-flux motors—one for each rear wheel. These motors are about 3.2 inches thick, and each one is coupled to a single-speed planetary gear transmission. The combined powertrain weighs 309 pounds and hits a little over 13,000 rpm when maxed out.
Mercedes-AMG hasn't released the individual outputs of these motors, though the front motor will be less powerful than the two rear motors combined—AMG being a rear-drive-oriented company. The new model will come in GT55 and GT63 versions—both designations evoking significant AMG models from the past.
The GT55 will have a combined maximum of 805 horsepower and 1328 pound-feet of torque. The GT63 elevates these figures to 1153 and 1475, respectively. Powering these motors is a new battery that consists of 2660 cylindrical cells stacked vertically, arrayed in 18 modules, nine to a side, in a big, mostly aluminum battery box.
Source: caranddriver.com
