The Mercedes Concept AMG GT XX is a 1,300 HP EV Tech Showcase

Mercedes revealed the Concept AMG GT XX today, a four-door grand tourer that is a showcase for all of the automaker’s next-generation electric vehicle (EV) technology. With 1,360 hp on tap, fancy new batteries that can recoup 400 km of range in five minutes, and whizzbang wheels, the new model is a thrilling foretaste of what’s to come.

The most attention-grabbing aspect of the Concept AMG GT XX is its massive power figure, which is enabled by axial flux motors. Otherwise only available in hypercars like the Ferrari SF90 Stradale and the Koenigsegg Regera, the motor design is noted for slim proportions and its low weight.

Indeed, Mercedes stuffed three of these so-called “pancake motors” into the Concept AMG GT XX — one powering the front axle and two for the back wheels. Together, Mercedes claims they could power the concept car (which has a staggeringly low drag coefficient of 0.198 to a top speed of 360 km/h.

What is perhaps more impressive than the Concept AMG GT XX’s top speed is the speed with which it can claw back power at the charging station. Mercedes claims that the vehicle can recover up to 400 km of driving in just five minutes at the plug.

Unfortunately, drivers can’t just recharge their vehicle at that rate anywhere. Indeed, Mercedes has worked with an outside partner to develop special charging stations that can generate over 850 kW of charging power. The good news is that the automaker is working with Alpitronic, its charging partner, to install high-speed chargers capable of this power at its network of charging stations in Europe.

The ability to recharge that quickly doesn’t just come down to a bigger plug, as it were, though. The Concept AMG GT XX’s impressive energy recovery is also facilitated by its new cylindrical cell battery technology.

Like others (notably BMW and Tesla), Mercedes is moving towards cylindrical cells in its battery packs. However, it says its cells are particularly tall and thin, allowing them to dissipate heat faster. Not only does that allow for impressive charging rates, it also allows drivers to discharge the batteries quickly and repeatedly, making the battery pack ideal for high-performance vehicles.

The low-slung body is defined by its need to cut through the air efficiently — which may explain why the vertical-slot grille is the only part of the vehicle that it recognizably Mercedes-AMG — but within that constraint, the team has done some interesting things.

Air outlets in the hood move warm air away from the front of the vehicle and optimize cooling, while an air brake at the back helps slow the Concept AMG GT XX down. The most interesting aspect of this aerodynamic control is the 21-inch forged aluminum wheels. These feature moveable wind vanes that can stick tight to the wheel to reduce drag, or can open up to allow cooling air onto the brakes and increase downforce.

Unfortunately only a concept vehicle for now, the Concept AMG GT XX will not be sold to the public, but the technology it previews may someday soon make it into a vehicle near you.