Mercedes-AMG, the high performance car manufacturing arm under Mercedes Benz, is planning to add a second supercar model in their roster. The rumored vehicle is supposedly F1-inspired and the company is plotting to match this against the Ferrari 488.
"My personal thinking is that we are now at a level where we could support another dedicated AMG model," Mercedes-AMG head Tobias Moers said via Autocar. Though Moers didn't reveal more details about its plans, an insider told the news outlet that the German company will release a car that is different from the AMG GT coupé, its premiere vehicle. Instead, the new road car is a mid-engine hybrid model with a power like the Formula One (F1).
Mercedes-AMG Is Rumored to be Considering an F1-Inspired Road Car https://t.co/Y0UDMiADz0 pic.twitter.com/pXyTAlDzIm
— Formula One World (@FormulaOneWorld) April 22, 2016
Mercedes-AMG Has Technology For F1-Inspired Supercar
The company, which has been looking to replace its discontinued SLS-AMG line, already possess the technology to create a hybrid F1-inspired supercar. If plans proceed and if it gets approved, it is believed that Mercedes-AMG will create a lightweight vehicle with electrical power and a powerful internal combustion engine.
Car Scoops reports that the planned AMG road car will not compete with other hyper vehicles such as the Porsche 918 Spyder or the McLaren P1. It will be a close match to the Ferrari 488, which is coming out with a new model as well, per Motor Ward.
Mercedes-AMG F1-Inspired Supercar: Why It Matters
Top Gear points out that it would be good business for Mercedes-AMG to come out with a new supercar at this point. Without a successor to the SLS-AMG, the company doesn't have a legitimate flagship model that can draw high sales. Although Mercedes-AMG has the AMG GT, this particular line was not built to replace the SLS-AMG, per Topspeed.
From a technological perspective, Mercedes-AMG's push to infuse F1 features in the new supercar might be good for the brand as well. Mercedes has been dominating the car racing sports arena for years and its planned supercar could potentially allow the car brand to dominate road car manufacturing as well.
