AMG boss Tobias Moers has said that the Black Series badge will return on an unspecified AMG model in the future. He also admitted that development of hybrid technology was in the works at Mercedes’ performance arm.
Speaking to our sister publication Autocar UK, at the Geneva motor show, Moers said the new GT and C63 models marked a new dawn for the company under his leadership and a different approach. “We did a review,” he said, “and it’s different now. It’s not all about having 900 Newton metres (91.8kgm) of torque at 2,000rpm; it’s about making the cars more sophisticated, more precise. Improving everything a little bit. The GT is first, the C63 second, then the GLE Coupé will be something else again.”
This new approach means the Black Series name has been parked for now, but Moers said it would return. “The Black Series name stays,” said Moers. “It will be necessary in the future, but for now the base cars are so good. The Black Series must be at the top of the hill, but I don’t know when or on what model yet.”
On hybrids, he said, “We will need hybrid applications in the future, and we have done research for hybrids for AMG. We can offer performance and efficiency and will be able to find solutions.”
The GT range will also expand with further variants in the future, Moers revealed, most likely first with a higher-performance Porsche 911 GT3 rival. It is likely that the GT range will perhaps mirror the 911 range, with new variants coming out on an annual basis to maintain interest in the car. A direct SLS successor is not planned at present, said Moers, AMG being happy to have the GT as an indirect successor.
Further, ‘AMG-lite’ AMG Sport variants such as the new C450 AMG Sport are also being planned, according to Moers, on a broad selection of models in the AMG range.
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