In a historic move, Mercedes-AMG has announced the development of its first in-house SUV, a groundbreaking venture in its 57-year history. The new “Born in Affalterbach” high-performance off-roader is being built on AMG’s proprietary AMG.EA electric high-performance platform, signaling a fresh era of innovation for the renowned performance brand. Initial test drives for development vehicles are slated to begin this winter.
High-performance SUVs have been a pivotal part of Mercedes-AMG’s portfolio for over a quarter of a century. The brand, originating from Affalterbach, made waves in the automotive world over 25 years ago with the ML 55 AMG, a vehicle credited with pioneering the high-performance SUV segment. Since then, the popularity of AMG’s high-performance off-roaders has soared, with sustained growth and widespread consumer appeal. Mercedes-AMG now boasts a formidable lineup of six SUV model lines, including the GLA, GLB, GLC, GLE, GLS, and EQE SUV. The Mercedes-AMG G 63, with its iconic Geländewagen design, remains the flagship of the performance off-roader range.
The “Born in Affalterbach” SUV marks a significant milestone as Mercedes-AMG takes on complete responsibility for the vehicle’s architecture for the first time. This model will be the second to utilize the all-electric AMG.EA platform, underscoring AMG’s commitment to combining electric efficiency with its legendary performance standards. This SUV joins the elite cadre of vehicles developed entirely by AMG, alongside the trailblazing GT, SL, previous GT generations, and the SLS models.
In discussing this ambitious project, Michael Schiebe, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH and Head of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class & Mercedes-Maybach divisions, emphasized the brand’s forward-thinking approach: “SUVs have been among our most popular models for many years. With the ‘Born in Affalterbach’ SUV, we are responding to this trend by offering our customers a truly captivating high-performance off-roader based on the AMG.EA platform. Our new high-performance architecture follows a clear philosophy: ‘AMG First, EV Second.’ This means that the vehicles not only excel as electric vehicles but also embody the core AMG qualities of emotion and performance.”
This development is poised to further solidify AMG’s standing in the luxury SUV market, catering to the growing demand for electric vehicles without compromising on the dynamic performance and exhilarating driving experience that have come to define the AMG brand. As the range of test models prepares to hit the wintery tracks, the world awaits this exciting blend of AMG’s racing heritage with cutting-edge electric technology.
