It was bound to happen sooner or later, but this is the first time that an official actually confirms the inevitability of hybrid powertrains in AMG cars, with the information coming straight from AMG boss, Tobias Moers.
The quote comes from an interview that Moers gave to
Auto Express at the New York Auto Show, and when asked about the possibility of electric motors supplementing those burbling internal combustion engines, he was far from denying it.
“Honestly, I would say yes for sure [we will make hybrid AMGs],” Tobias Moers said. “I can’t say when for sure but we have already started a lot of research.”
While his words seem as if he is talking about a more distant future – something like at least two car generations – keep in mind that Mercedes-Benz is already about to introduce the most frugal luxury sedan on the planet, in the shape of the S 500 Plug-in Hybrid, while a C 350 Plug-in Hybrid is on the way by the end of the year as well.
In other words, the technology of pairing a more powerful electric motor with an internal combustion engine and a large battery is more than within reach for AMG, with the probability of such an occurrence being rather high in the next 4-5 years or even sooner.
If we were to bet, we would say that at least half of the AMG lineup will be sporting hybrid engines in 2020, as that is the year when most of the models from today's lineup would be in a new generation. Hybrid haters should at cars like the Porsche 918 Spyder, Ferrari TheFerrari or McLaren P1 for reference in how hybrid technology can deliver performance.
The quote comes from an interview that Moers gave to
Auto Express at the New York Auto Show, and when asked about the possibility of electric motors supplementing those burbling internal combustion engines, he was far from denying it.
“Honestly, I would say yes for sure [we will make hybrid AMGs],” Tobias Moers said. “I can’t say when for sure but we have already started a lot of research.”
While his words seem as if he is talking about a more distant future – something like at least two car generations – keep in mind that Mercedes-Benz is already about to introduce the most frugal luxury sedan on the planet, in the shape of the S 500 Plug-in Hybrid, while a C 350 Plug-in Hybrid is on the way by the end of the year as well.
In other words, the technology of pairing a more powerful electric motor with an internal combustion engine and a large battery is more than within reach for AMG, with the probability of such an occurrence being rather high in the next 4-5 years or even sooner.
If we were to bet, we would say that at least half of the AMG lineup will be sporting hybrid engines in 2020, as that is the year when most of the models from today's lineup would be in a new generation. Hybrid haters should at cars like the Porsche 918 Spyder, Ferrari TheFerrari or McLaren P1 for reference in how hybrid technology can deliver performance.
