Mercedes Benz Is Readying AMG Hybrids

Tighter emissions standards are forcing the age of green sportscars to come a little sooner than expected. Porsche’s unveiling of the 918RSR at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show was well received, and this is also the case of Audi’s e-Tron concept at just about every event it attends.

Mercedes Benz is also no stranger to green technologies, as it has already announced that the road-going version of the SLS AMG E-Cell will go into production and should be ready by 2013. According to a recent AutoCar article, future AMG models from Mercedes will also include hybrid versions that will offer improved fuel consumption.

Back in 2008, AMG’s former CEO Volker Mornhinweg said the company wanted to combine batteries, ultracapacitors and flywheels for its future hybrids, in order to boost performance. However, the company is now focused on fuel economy and lowering CO2 emissions. “In the future AMG will still offer high performance models but there will be hybrids there. AMG needs to reduce fuel consumption,” said Daimler’s head of future mobility and advanced engineering, Herbert Kohler.

VW Group will instead focus on technologies that increase performance with their hybrid powertrains, including the innovative flywheel system used on the Porsche 918. However, Kohler explained AMG will take a different path: “Hybrids can boost, but AMGs will use stop-start and recuperation technology.”

Right now, the firm is also focused on development of its high-performance SLS E-Cell. The all-electric model uses four electric motors, which generate 392 kW and 880 Nm (649 lb-ft) of torque, instead of the conventional 6.3-liter V8 petrol engine. It is estimated to reach 100 km/h (62mph) time in the region of 4 seconds.