[AMG Legend 60 Years] From modified cars to electric supercars | Why One Man, One Engine | Counting classic models

In the 1960s, Mercedes-Benz was already a household name with a large number of users, which naturally attracted many independent companies to provide specialized modification services. Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher, two engineers who had worked for Mercedes-Benz, founded AMG Motorenbau und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (AMG Engine Manufacturing and Development Company, AMG for short) in 1967. The name comes from the first letters of the surnames of the two founders (Aufrecht and Melcher), plus the first letter of Großaspach, Hans Werner Aufrecht's hometown. From then on, AMG was officially born.

In the early days of AMG, its main focus was on the forging and development of racing engines, and its modification projects were carried out in a low-key manner, which did not immediately attract public attention. It was not until four years later, in 1971, that AMG launched its first modified car, the Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.0 AMG, which won the 24-hour endurance race group championship and second place overall at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium , making AMG stand out to the world. The 300SEL 6.0 AMG is nicknamed "The Red Pig" because of its red body.

The success of the "Rosso Rosso" has allowed the outside world to see the strength of AMG, how to make a 5-meter-long and 1.6-ton vehicle appear to be both elegant and powerful, attracting an endless stream of visitors. In 1976, AMG had more than 40 employees and its headquarters moved to Affalterbach , where it remains today. Special mention should be made of the AMG logo, which not only features the word Affalterbach, but also the apple tree of the Affalterbach city emblem, as well as valves, valve springs and cam patterns representing engine technology. Many of the design concepts also originated from Affalterbach.

After moving to the new plant, AMG significantly increased the scale of its modifications, creating a new 5.0-liter V8 engine with 4 valves per cylinder in 1984. In order to ensure that the installation and tuning of each component meet the highest standards, AMG has established the "One Man, One Engine" engine manufacturing concept. Every AMG technician has undergone rigorous training and has an in-depth understanding of every detail of the engine to ensure that the engine's performance and durability are at their best.

the ETCC European Touring Car Championship with the 450 SLC AMC , successfully winning the 6-hour Nurburgring race and the runner-up in the Monza race. Another classic masterpiece of AMG, the Mercedes-Benz 300E, also known as The Hammer, was launched in 1986. With 375 horsepower and a top speed of over 300 km/h, it immediately caused a sensation in the automotive industry.

Although there is a saying that "things that come together must eventually separate", AMG's loyalty to Mercedes-Benz over the years brought the two companies closer together, and finally in 1990, the two companies officially became partners. With strong support, AMG lived up to expectations and brought the 190E to the racing track, turning this four-door sedan into a formidable monster car, setting a record of 7 consecutive victories in a single season in the DTM touring car race . The duel between the 190E and the BMW M3 on the Guia Circuit in Macau in the 1990s is still talked about today.

In 1993, AMG launched the first officially certified AMG model - Mercedes-Benz E 500, equipped with a 5-liter V8 engine with 326 horsepower. In the same year, AMG launched the first model designed entirely by AMG - Mercedes-Benz C 36 AMG, which achieved major breakthroughs in performance and technology. In 1999, Daimler-Chrysler AG, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz at the time, decided to acquire 51% of AMG's shares, making AMG officially a subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz and renamed it Mercedes-AMG , which is still used today.

After years of cooperation, AMG has become an integral part of Mercedes-Benz. In 2005, Daimler-Chrysler AG acquired the remaining shares of AMG, making AMG finally part of the group. In 2006, AMG launched the first super sports car designed entirely by AMG - Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, which is famous for its classic gull-wing door design and powerful performance. In 2009, AMG launched the first AMG-exclusive engine - the M159 V8 BiTurbo, which was used in the Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG, providing 612 horsepower.

Faced with the wave of electric vehicles in the past decade, AMG has also kept pace with the times and launched its first plug-in hybrid model, the Mercedes-AMG C 63 SE Performance, in 2017. In 2020, the company launched its first electric car, the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53, with an output power of 751 horsepower. Currently, AMG focuses its efforts on hybrid and pure electric models, while also not forgetting its original intention and continuing to shine on the racing track.

-

Also known as "Red Sow", it was the first modified car launched by AMG in 1971 based on the Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3. After AMG modification, the engine displacement increased to 6.8 liters and the horsepower reached 428. It once set a record in the Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours Endurance Race, covering 3,364.7 kilometers at an average speed of 140.54 km/h, becoming a symbol of AMG's early success.

From the late 1980s to the early 1990s, AMG launched several modified versions of the 190E, including the 190E 2.3-16 AMG, 190E 2.5-16 Evolution I and 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II, which won many championships in the DTM and many other competitions. The exterior has undergone a number of modifications, including a sportier aerodynamic kit, larger wheels and a lower body. The interior also features sports seats and exclusive interior design.

The luxury sedan launched by Mercedes-Benz in 1985 belongs to the W124 series and is equipped with a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with an output power of 188 horsepower. In 1988, AMG launched the modified version of 300E "The Hammer", equipped with a 6-liter V8 engine and outputting 375 horsepower, becoming an AMG classic.

Launched in 1993, it was the first model designed entirely by AMG and was based on the W202 C-Class. It is equipped with a 3.6-liter inline six-cylinder engine that provides 280 horsepower and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.2 seconds. The C 36 AMG adopts many groundbreaking designs in terms of performance and technology, becoming a classic of AMG in the 1990s.

The SLS AMG, launched in 2009, is the first super sports car designed entirely by AMG. It impresses with its classic gull-wing door design and powerful performance. It is equipped with a 6.2-liter V8 engine with 571 horsepower. SLS AMG is AMG's iconic work in the 2000s and also a touchstone for AMG's entry into the super sports car field.

The C 63 SE Performance, based on the W205 C-Class, was launched in 2017 and is AMG's first plug-in hybrid model. It uses a 4-liter V8 twin-turbocharged engine and an electric motor, with a total output of 680 horsepower and 1,000 Nm of torque. The pure electric mode has a range of about 30 kilometers, laying the foundation for AMG's development of electric vehicles.

AMG's first electric car, launched in 2020, is developed based on the Mercedes-Benz EQS platform. In terms of power performance, it provides 751 horsepower and 1,020 Nm of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, plus a top speed of 250 km/h, continuing AMG's tradition of strong performance.