With the unveiling of the CONCEPT AMG GT XX, Mercedes-AMG once again demonstrates why the Affalterbach-based performance brand has earned its reputation as a relentless pioneer in automotive engineering. From the company’s earliest victories in motorsport to its groundbreaking records on some of the world’s most demanding test tracks, AMG has always embodied the pursuit of uncompromising performance. The latest concept is not just another step forward; it is a bold leap into the electric future of high-performance vehicles.
With the CONCEPT AMG GT XX, the brand is setting new global records and offering a preview of what its AMG.EA electric architecture will bring when it enters production in the near future. This concept is not simply a design study but a technology demonstrator that has already proven itself under some of the most extreme endurance tests ever undertaken by an electric car.
Mercedes USA reported on August 25, 2025, that its CONCEPT AMG GT XX broke a total of 25 long-distance records on the legendary high-speed test track in Nardò, Italy.
Pioneering Technology at the Core
At the heart of the GT XX lies a revolutionary drivetrain consisting of three axial-flux motors and a directly cooled, high-performance battery. These aren’t theoretical technologies—they are production-ready innovations designed to enter series manufacturing under AMG.EA. Together, they unlock a new dimension of power, torque delivery, and long-distance endurance.
These groundbreaking motors were initially developed by YASA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz AG, a British electric motor specialist. Mercedes-AMG, in close collaboration with YASA, elevated this concept to an entirely new level of performance.
Axial-flux motors differ significantly from the radial motors found in nearly every other EV today. Their architecture makes them far more compact and lightweight while also tripling power density. This allows AMG to deliver levels of continuous output and repeatable peak performance that traditional EV motors cannot sustain. In fact, the GT XX’s triple-motor setup generates a peak output exceeding 1,000 kW (>1,341 hp)—a figure that cements its place among the most powerful electric prototypes ever created.
A Formula 1-inspired battery system supports the motors, engineered entirely from scratch in Affalterbach. Built with cylindrical NCMA cells in a tall, narrow format, the pack achieves an energy density of over 300 Wh/kg. The cells are directly cooled by an electrically non-conductive oil, ensuring that each of the more than 3,000 cells remains at the ideal operating temperature even under repeated high-load scenarios. This direct cooling not only preserves battery health but also enables extraordinary charging speeds: the GT XX recharges at power levels of over 850 kW, adding up to 400 km of range in just five minutes.
This level of thermal control and charging capability surpasses what current global charging networks can deliver, positioning the AMG.EA system as a future-proof solution, ready for tomorrow's infrastructure.
Nardò: The Stage for History
To prove these claims, Mercedes-AMG chose one of the most demanding testing venues in the world: the Nardò Technical Center in southern Italy. Known for its 12.68-kilometer high-speed ring, Nardò has served for decades as the proving ground where the fastest and most advanced vehicles are pushed to their absolute limits.
It was here that the CONCEPT AMG GT XX broke 25 long-distance world records, including the most coveted: the record for the greatest distance traveled by an electric vehicle in 24 hours. The previous benchmark, just under 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles), was obliterated. The GT XX covered 5,479 km (3,404 mi) in a single day—an astonishing 38 percent improvement and more than 1,500 kilometers further than the prior record holder.
But AMG wasn’t content to stop at one record run. The engineers conceived a far more ambitious challenge: to drive the distance of the Earth’s circumference—40,075 km (24,901 mi)—in less than eight days. Inspired by Jules Verne’s classic Around the World in 80 Days, the program was aptly named “Around the World in Eight Days.”
The challenge demanded not only endurance but also an unwavering pace. For more than a week, the GT XX maintained a constant speed of 300 km/h (186 mph), pausing only for ultra-fast recharging. Each time the car left the charging station, it rocketed back up to speed, repeating this brutal cycle thousands of times. Despite the punishing schedule, the drivetrain and battery performed flawlessly.
A Global Circumnavigation in Record Time
On the morning of August 25, 2025, the CONCEPT AMG GT XX achieved its audacious goal: completing the equivalent of a circumnavigation of the globe in 7 days, 13 hours, 24 minutes, and 7 seconds, comfortably ahead of the target time. Along the way, the car not only secured its 24-hour distance record but also accumulated numerous additional long-distance and endurance titles.
Remarkably, AMG deployed not one but two GT XX prototypes in parallel. Both vehicles embarked on the mission simultaneously and crossed the finish line just 25 kilometers apart—a margin of less than two laps of Nardò’s high-speed ring after more than a week of non-stop driving. This near-identical performance underscored not just the strength of a single car, but the repeatability and reliability of the entire drivetrain platform.
By the end of the challenge, the program had required 3,177 laps of the circuit, averaging more than 5,300 km (3,293 mi) per day. Drivers rotated in two-hour stints, maintaining focus and precision through both scorching daytime heat—up to 35°C (95°F) in the shade—and cooler nighttime conditions. The vehicles endured it all without mechanical fault or noticeable decline in performance.
The Human and Technical Team Behind the Feat
While the GT XX itself was the star, the achievement also highlighted the coordinated efforts of the AMG team and its partners.
Pit Crews ensured rapid tire changes and flawless recharging operations.
Remote Diagnostics linked Affalterbach engineers to Nardò in real-time, providing 24/7 monitoring of battery health, motor temperatures, and software systems.
Michelin, as a tire supplier, developed specialized compounds to handle the relentless high-speed loads.
Alpitronic, a charging technology partner, supplied hardware capable of delivering the unprecedented 850 kW charging rates required for the program.
Safety crews and medical staff stood on constant alert to manage the risks inherent in a continuous high-speed campaign.
The result was a seamless integration of human precision and technological innovation, showcasing AMG’s ability to orchestrate not only record-breaking machines but also record-breaking programs.
A New Dimension of Electric Performance
What sets the CONCEPT AMG GT XX apart is not just its peak horsepower or its futuristic battery chemistry, but its ability to deliver sustained high performance over long distances.
The GT XX maintained near-maximum output for days on end. The axial-flux motors allowed for repeated accelerations to 300 km/h, while the directly cooled battery ensured consistent thermal stability and ultra-fast recharge cycles. This combination makes the AMG.EA platform a game-changer for the future of high-performance EVs, where range, durability, and recharge speed must coexist with raw speed and power.
Our Take
Electric vehicles are not only the most eco-friendly and cost-effective option on the road, but they also stand as some of the fastest machines ever built.
EVinfo.net reported that YASA’s groundbreaking Axial Flux motors will likely one day show up in everyday EVs. “Whilst really being used in the niche sports car sector today, over time we will see that filter through to Mercedes-AMG vehicles, and then into the automotive sector more broadly,” said YASA CEO Tim Woolmer.
This post originally appeared on EVInfo.net and has been republished by Guessing Headlights with permission.
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