Mercedes-AMG facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Mercedes-AMG GmbH

Type	Subsidiary (GmbH)
Industry	Automotive
Fate	Acquired by DaimlerChrysler (1999 (1999)), and operating under Daimler AG
Founded	1967; 58 years ago (1967) (as AMG Motorenbau und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH) Burgstall a. d. Murr, Germany
Founders	Hans Werner Aufrecht Erhard Melcher
Headquarters	Affalterbach , Germany
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Philipp Schiemer (Chairman of the Board)
Products	High performance automobiles
Services	Research and development
Number of employees	~2,900
Parent	Mercedes-Benz AG

Mercedes-AMG GmbH, often called AMG, is a special part of Mercedes-Benz AG. AMG makes high-performance versions of Mercedes-Benz cars. The letters 'AMG' stand for the last names of its founders, Aufrecht and Melcher, and Großaspach, which is Aufrecht's hometown.

AMG has its main office in Affalterbach, Germany. They hire engineers and work with manufacturers to create unique Mercedes-Benz AMG vehicles. These cars usually look more aggressive, have better performance, and handle better than regular Mercedes-Benz models.

AMG cars are often the most expensive and powerful versions of each Mercedes-Benz car type. They are usually named with two numbers, like "E 63," instead of three, like "E 350." These numbers don't always mean the engine size. For example, some newer AMG V8 cars called "E 63" actually have 4.0-liter V8 engines.

History of AMG Performance Cars

AMG logo on a Mercedes E 63 AMG

AMG started in 1967 as a company that built racing engines. It was founded by two former Mercedes-Benz engineers, Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher. Their company was called AMG Motorenbau- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH.

In 1976, most of AMG moved to Affalterbach. The part of the company that developed racing engines stayed in Burgstall.

Working with Mercedes-Benz

By 1993, AMG was well-known for making special Mercedes-Benz cars. Daimler-Benz AG, the company that owns Mercedes-Benz, signed a deal with AMG. This allowed AMG to use Mercedes-Benz's large network of dealerships.

Their first car made together was the Mercedes-Benz C36 AMG in 1993.

Mercedes AMG Classic Logo

In 1999, DaimlerChrysler AG bought 51 percent of AMG's shares. AMG's name changed to Mercedes-AMG GmbH. The racing engine part of the company became a separate business called HWA AG. In 2005, Aufrecht sold his remaining shares to DaimlerChrysler. Since then, Mercedes-AMG GmbH has been fully owned by the Mercedes-Benz Group.

How AMG Cars Evolved

AMG Five Spoke Road Wheel

AMG began by designing and testing engines for racing. Later, they started building custom road cars based on standard Mercedes models. In the early days, AMG offered unofficial upgrades for many Mercedes-Benz cars.

From the early 1980s until 1990, AMG was an independent company. They offered different engine upgrades, special wheels, and styling parts. In 1990, AMG signed a deal with Daimler-Benz. This meant AMG options and cars could be sold in Mercedes-Benz showrooms.

Typical AMG upgrades included bigger engines and special parts to make them more powerful. They also offered special wheels and sportier suspension. This made the cars handle better and sit lower.

AMG also offered cool body kits, from small front spoilers to wide body kits. Inside, you could get special seats, smaller steering wheels, and custom interiors.

In 1986, an AMG-modified Mercedes-Benz E-Class was called the world's fastest sedan. It was nicknamed "the Hammer." It had a powerful 5.6-liter V8 engine. This car was so fast it could beat a Lamborghini Countach in acceleration from 60 to 120 mph.

In the early 2000s, AMG mostly used supercharged V8 and V6 engines. A supercharger is like a special air pump that pushes more air into the engine to make it more powerful. But in 2006, they started using naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 engines. Later, they switched to turbocharging for even more power. A turbocharger uses exhaust gases to spin a turbine, which also pushes more air into the engine.

Mercedes AMG DTM car (2003)

Most modern AMG models use automatic transmissions. These are different from the manual transmissions often found in cars from rivals like BMW M. Mercedes-AMG cars are known for their powerful acceleration. They also offer a comfortable ride and are practical for everyday use.

AMG in Motor Racing

AMG 300 SEL 6.8, "Red Sow" (1971)

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, AMG raced a big Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3 V8 sedan. It was lovingly called the "Red Sow." They raced it in famous events like the 1971 Spa 24 Hours.

AMG and Mercedes started working together on racing cars for the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM), a German touring car championship, in 1988. AMG became the official partner for Mercedes in DTM.

When DaimlerChrysler bought most of AMG in 1999, the racing part became a separate company called HWA AG. HWA builds and runs the cars for DTM races.

Since 2010, AMG GT3 cars have competed in GT races around the world. These include races like the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.

AMG engine display at the Pagani factory

Mercedes-AMG cars have also been used as the official safety cars for the Formula One World Championship for many years. Since 2012, the Mercedes Formula One team has been called Mercedes AMG Petronas.

AMG's Connections with Other Car Makers

Working with Pagani

AMG also makes engines for Pagani's supercars, like the Zonda and Huayra. The powerful 7.3-liter V12 engines used in these cars were originally from a Mercedes-Benz race car.

Working with Aston Martin

In 2013, Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd and Daimler AG announced they would work together. This deal allows Aston Martin to use Mercedes-AMG's powerful V8 engines and other electronic parts. Daimler AG now owns a small part of Aston Martin.

Since 2021, Mercedes-AMG shares the role of official Safety Car supplier for Formula One with Aston Martin.

Working with Lotus

AMG also provides engines for the Lotus Emira sports car. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine used in the Emira is also found in some Mercedes-AMG models.

AMG Styling Packages

Mercedes-Benz lets customers add an "AMG trim" or "styling package" to almost any Mercedes model. This means you can make your Mercedes car look like an AMG car, even if it doesn't have the special AMG engine.

AMG styling can include things like a rear spoiler, sporty body parts, special wheels, sport seats, and AMG floor mats. It can also include sportier suspension and brakes.

Current AMG Models

AMG carbon fiber engine cover

Most AMG engines are built by hand. This is part of a special "one man, one engine" idea. This means one person builds an entire engine from start to finish. To show this, each AMG engine builder signs a special plaque on the engine they build. There are only about 50 AMG engine builders in the world.

AMG models are sold alongside regular Mercedes cars. This is different from other companies that modify Mercedes cars, like Brabus.

E 63 AMG carbon ceramic brake

Mercedes-AMG ONE

• Mercedes-AMG ONE (This car uses a special 1.6-liter V6 E-Turbo Hybrid engine, similar to those in Formula 1 race cars.)

"35" Models (2.0 L Inline-4 Turbo)

• Mercedes-AMG A 35
• Mercedes-AMG CLA 35
• Mercedes-AMG GLA 35
• Mercedes-AMG GLB 35

"43" Models (2.0 L Inline-4 Turbo)

• Mercedes-AMG C 43
• Mercedes-AMG SL 43
• Mercedes-AMG GT 43
• Mercedes-AMG GLC 43

"43" Models (3.0 L Inline-6 Turbo)

• Mercedes-AMG GT 43 4-Door Coupé

"45" Models (2.0 L Inline-4 Turbo)

• Mercedes-AMG A 45/A 45 S 4MATIC+
• Mercedes-AMG CLA 45/CLA 45 S 4MATIC+
• Mercedes-AMG GLA 45/GLA 45 S 4MATIC+

The "45 S" version of the 2.0-liter engine was once the world's most powerful four-cylinder engine in regular production. It produced 415 horsepower!

"53" Models (3.0 L Inline-6 Turbo)

AMG GT 53 4-Door Coupé

• Mercedes-AMG CLS 53 (C257)
• Mercedes-AMG CLE 53
• Mercedes-AMG GT 53 4-Door Coupé
• Mercedes-AMG GLE 53

"53 E-Performance" Models (3.0 L Inline-6 Turbo PHEV)

• Mercedes-AMG E 53 HYBRID 4MATIC+
• Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 HYBRID 4MATIC+

"55" Models (4.0 L V8 Bi-Turbo)

• Mercedes-AMG SL 55 4MATIC+
• Mercedes-AMG GT 55

"63" Models (4.0 L V8 Bi-Turbo)

Mercedes-AMG GT

• Mercedes-AMG GT 63/63 Pro
• Mercedes-AMG SL 63 4MATIC+
• Mercedes-AMG GT 63 4-Door Coupé
• Mercedes-AMG G 63 (W465)
• Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S
• Mercedes-AMG GLS 63

These V8 engines use a special design where the turbochargers are placed inside the "V" shape of the engine. This makes the engine more compact.

"63 E-Performance" Models (2.0 L Inline-4 Turbo PHEV)

• Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E-PERFORMANCE
• Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E-PERFORMANCE

The engine in the C 63 S E-Performance is currently the most powerful four-cylinder engine in regular production.

"63 E-Performance" Models (4.0 L V8 Bi-Turbo PHEV)

• Mercedes-AMG S 63 E-PERFORMANCE
• Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E-PERFORMANCE
• Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé E-PERFORMANCE
• Mercedes-AMG SL 63 S E-PERFORMANCE

Mercedes-AMG EQ (Electric Models)

"43" Dual-Motor

• Mercedes-AMG EQE 43
• Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV 43

"53" Dual-Motor

• Mercedes-AMG EQE 53
• Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV 53
• Mercedes-AMG EQS 53

Previous AMG Models

"65" Models (6.0 L V12 Bi-Turbo)

Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG (2012)

These models had a powerful V12 engine with two turbochargers. This engine could produce over 600 horsepower! Even though they had huge power, sometimes the V8 AMG models were faster because they were lighter and had better balance.

"63" Models (5.5 L V8 Bi-Turbo)

E 63 AMG 4MATIC T

These models used a 5.5-liter V8 engine with twin turbochargers. This engine was very powerful and also more fuel-efficient than older AMG engines. It also had a special "start/stop" mode to save fuel.

Since 2013, many AMG models with the S-Model package have all-wheel drive. This helps them handle better and accelerate even faster.

"63" Models (6.2 L V8)

SLS AMG

AMG developed its own V8 engine, called the M156, for racing. This engine was also used in many AMG road cars like the SL 63 and E 63. It was a naturally aspirated engine, meaning it didn't use superchargers or turbochargers.

C 63 AMG sedan

In 2009, AMG created an even more powerful version of this engine, the M159, for the SLS AMG supercar.

"55" Models (5.4 L V8)

2003 AMG CL 55 Kompressor

Some of these models were naturally aspirated, while others had a supercharger. The supercharged versions were very powerful. For example, the 2003 E 55 AMG could go from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds!

Black Series Models

SL 65 AMG Black Series

SLS AMG Black Series

AMG GT Black Series

AMG Black Series models are the most extreme and high-performance cars from AMG. They are like street-legal race cars! These special cars are only made in limited numbers and are usually two-door vehicles.

Black Series cars have many upgrades. They are lighter, have special racing seats, and unique exterior and interior changes. They also have much more power, better grip, and amazing handling.

For example, the SLS AMG Black Series was incredibly fast. It could go from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds. It also performed incredibly well on race tracks, beating many other famous supercars.

As of July 2024, the AMG GT Black Series is one of the fastest sports cars to ever lap the famous Nürburgring Nordschleife race track in Germany.

Non-Mercedes AMG Models

Even though AMG is now fully owned by Mercedes, they have also made special versions of cars from other brands in the past.

Mitsubishi AMG Models

Mitsubishi Galant AMG

AMG worked with Mitsubishi on some cars. For example, the Mitsubishi Debonair V3000 Royal AMG had an AMG body kit and wheels. There was also a Mitsubishi Galant AMG made for the Japanese market. It had a special AMG-tuned engine and a full leather interior.

Honda AMG Models

In the 1980s and 1990s, AMG made sporty versions of the Honda Ballade in South Africa. These cars were based on the Honda Civic. They had special springs, wheels, and bigger rear spoilers. This partnership happened because Mercedes-Benz of South Africa helped sell Honda cars in the country.

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See also

In Spanish: Mercedes-AMG para niños

• List of German cars
• Alpina
• Audi Sport GmbH
• BMW M
• Brabus
• Hyundai N
• Opel Performance Center