Mercedes-AMG has set an astonishing 25 new long-distance and speed records for electric vehicles, demonstrating the formidable capabilities of its new Concept AMG GT XX. The record-breaking feat took place during an intense ultramarathon run at the high-speed Nardò test track in southern Italy, involving two Concept AMG GT XX prototypes and a dedicated team of 17 racing drivers, including Formula 1 driver George Russell and Doriane Pin.

Over nearly eight days, specifically 7 days, 13 hours, 24 minutes, and 7.1 seconds, the highly orange electric super sedan was driven the equivalent of a lap around the Earth’s equator, covering a staggering 40,075 kilometers (24,901 miles). This remarkable achievement was just one of many, with the cars pushing the boundaries of what is technically possible for electric drives. The team of drivers operated in two-hour stints, consistently accelerating up to 186 mph and maintaining high speeds until recharging was necessary.

Among the most impressive records was the distance covered in a 24-hour period: 5,479 kilometers (3,404 miles). This shattered the previous EV record of under 4,000 kilometers (2,461 miles) by a significant margin of 943 miles. The Concept AMG GT XX also completed 5,000 miles in just over 35 hours, 10,000 miles in under three days, and 20,000 miles in just six days and 23 minutes, all while running at a constant 186 mph on the track. By the end of the week-long marathon, the two cars finished only 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) apart, with both having covered enough distance to circumnavigate the globe.

The extraordinary performance of the Concept AMG GT XX is attributed to its advanced electric powertrain and innovative architecture. The vehicle boasts 1,340 horsepower delivered by three axial-flux motors, identical to those destined for the production version of AMG’s forthcoming high-performance electric super sedan and SUV. Crucially, its endurance and speed were enabled by remarkably impressive charging capabilities, which averaged around 850 kW over the week, with a peak rate of 950 kW from an Alpitronic megawatt charger. This means approximately 250 miles of range could be recovered in just five minutes of charging.

The underlying technology is Mercedes-AMG’s new AMG.EA electric vehicle architecture, featuring in-house developed high-performance batteries. These batteries, refined with the help of engineers from the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team, contain over 3,000 cells with a unique nickel-cobalt-manganese-aluminium (NCMA) combination in the cathode and a silicon-content anode. Their tall, thin design and laser-welded aluminium housings enhance electrical and heat conductivity, allowing for more effective cooling by a surrounding electrically non-conductive oil. The challenging conditions at Nardò included ambient temperatures reaching 35°C (95°F), track temperatures as high as 160°F, and even occasional overnight rain showers, further highlighting the robustness of the technology.

Mercedes-Benz CTO Markus Schäfer emphasized the mission behind the record run: “The goal is to redefine the limits of what is technically possible in the age of electric drives.” He confirmed that the level of performance and endurance demonstrated by the Concept AMG GT XX will be transferred almost one-to-one into future production AMG.EA models, promising customers a