Mercedes AMG Concept GT has turned its orange, four-door CONCEPT AMG GT XX into a rolling headline machine at the Nardò high-speed test track in southern Italy.
The most eye-popping? A new 24-hour world distance mark of 5,479 km (3,405 miles) and an “around-the-world” total of 40,075 km (24,901 miles) completed in 7 days, 13 hours, 24 minutes, and 7 seconds—equivalent to the Earth’s circumference at the equator. In all, the program tallied 25 records across fixed distances and fixed time windows.
Underpinning the run is a powertrain that previews AMG’s next generation of electrified performance: three YASA axial-flux motors (two at the rear, one at the front) producing well over 1,000 kW (~1,360 hp), and an 800-volt battery built from high-density cylindrical NCMA cells with direct oil cooling for sustained, repeatable power.
AMG paired that with ultra-fast DC charging reported at ~850 kW average—enabled at Nardò by a prototype Alpitronic charger built specifically for the test. That charging rate let the team blast back to 300 km/h (186 mph) after each abbreviated stop, hour after hour. (For context, most public DC fast chargers today top out at 250–350 kW, making AMG’s number far beyond current consumer infrastructure.)
How They Pulled it off
The team’s strategy wasn’t “go as fast as possible”—it was go as fast as optimal. AMG says extensive simulations showed 300 km/h was the sweet spot that maximized average speed and minimized the number/length of charging sessions. The test ran two GT XX cars in parallel, each driven in two-hour stints by a 17-person roster, which notably included F1 driver George Russell. The two cars finished the “around-the-world” push just 25 km apart, a testament to the plan’s consistency and the hardware’s durability in >35°C daytime heat.
If the 24-hour number looks outrageous, it is—and that’s the point. AMG’s 5,479 km eclipsed the previous 24-hour EV distance record (3,961 km) set earlier this month by XPeng’s P7, by nearly 1,000 miles. The crew didn’t stop at 24 hours, either; they marched through 12/24/48/72/96/120/144/168-hour marks, as well as fixed distances—2,000 km, 5,000 km, 10,000 km, all the way up to 40,075 km—to log official splits.
Records By Distance
Records By Time
Why it Matters (and why it doesn’t—yet)
From a tech perspective, this is a stress test of thermal management, charging stability, and drivetrain efficiency at extremely high sustained loads. The axial-flux motors are compact and energy-dense; the direct-oil-cooled battery helps keep cell temperatures in the Goldilocks zone; and the 850 kW charging minimizes downtime.
Together, they demonstrate what purpose-built EV performance hardware can accomplish when everything—car, track, charger, and crew—is tuned for one mission. (AMG positions the GT XX as a preview of a four-door production EV on its upcoming AMG.EA platform, suggesting the learnings won’t stay in the lab.)
There are caveats. This was a manufacturer-supported, closed-course exercise with bespoke charging equipment that doesn’t exist in the public network. It proves what’s technically possible, not what you can do on a random road trip next weekend.
Still, it pushes the conversation forward—especially juxtaposed with Mercedes-Benz’s VISION EQXX program, which set single-charge efficiency/range records (e.g., 747 miles/1,202 km on a single charge). One program is about speed + uptime; the other is about miles per kWh. Together, they sketch the boundaries of EV capability from two angles.
Key Numbers at a Glance
- 24-hour distance: 5,479 km (3,405 mi) at Nardò.
- “Around the world” distance: 40,075 km (24,901 mi) in 7d 13h 24m 7s.
- Pace strategy: 300 km/h (186 mph) cruising; optimized for charge/speed trade-off.
- Charging: ~850 kW average via prototype Alpitronic unit; far beyond 250–350 kW public chargers.
- Powertrain: Three axial-flux motors, >1,000 kW (~1,360 hp) peak, >800 V battery with direct oil-cooled cylindrical cells.
FAQs
What records did the CONCEPT AMG GT XX break?
AMG says the program set 25 records, including the longest distance in 12/24/48/72/96/120/144/168 hours and fixed-distance marks up to 40,075 km, completed in 7d 13h 24m 7s—a symbolic “lap” of the Earth.
What’s the headline 24-hour result—and how big is the improvement?
5,479 km (3,405 miles) in 24 hours, beating the previous 3,961 km mark (XPeng P7) by ~1,518 km (~943 miles).
How did it charge so quickly?
The cars used a prototype 850 kW DC fast charger developed with Alpitronic, enabling roughly 400 km (≈250 mi) of WLTP range in ~5 minutes. Today’s public fast chargers are typically 250–350 kW, so this test showcased pre-commercial capability rather than consumer reality.
What speed did they maintain, and why that number?
AMG’s simulations found that 300 km/h delivered the best overall time by balancing on-track pace against charging frequency/length. Going faster would have increased consumption enough to erase the gains.
Who drove the cars? How many were used?
Two GT XX vehicles ran in parallel with a team of 17 drivers rotating two-hour stints; drivers included Mercedes-AMG F1’s George Russell. The pair finished the “around-the-world” challenge separated by just 25 km.
Is this relevant to road-trip charging for regular EVs?
Indirectly. It demonstrates what next-gen batteries, cooling, and drivetrains can handle under extreme duty cycles and what ultra-high-power charging can do when available. But it relied on infrastructure well beyond public networks today.
What’s the difference between this and Mercedes’ VISION EQXX “range records”?
The GT XX records are about distance covered over time, with many fast-charge stops at very high speeds. The VISION EQXX runs were single-charge efficiency marathons (e.g., 747 miles/1,202 km on one charge) that highlighted low consumption, not sustained 300 km/h travel. They answer different questions about EV capability.
Will there be a production car like this?
AMG presents the GT XX as a preview of its upcoming four-door electric performance model on the AMG.EA platform. Specs and timing for a series-production car haven’t been finalized publicly, but the concept signals where AMG’s electric performance is headed.
What’s the top speed and aero like?
AMG previously quoted a top speed above 360 km/h (≈223 mph) and a slippery design optimized for high-speed stability and efficiency—figures consistent with this endurance program’s 300 km/h operating strategy.
Summary
The CONCEPT AMG GT XX didn’t just inch the EV endurance bar higher—it leapt it, by combining brutal sustained pace, bleeding-edge thermal and charging tech, and airliner-like operational discipline. It’s not a template for your next family holiday, but it is a compelling proof of what’s technically possible—and a preview of how AMG’s first wave of dedicated electric performance cars might be engineered.