Even in “silent” mode, it will still sound like an AMG, the firm promising that a switchable “power” sound will emanate from loudspeakers when running on battery power. “In every situation, one thing remains the same: under all conditions, the E Performance hybrid is immediately recognisable as an AMG by its sound,” says the company. As the film’s title says, Everything But Quiet.
The rear electric motor is packaged in a single electric drive unit with an electrically shifted two-speed gearbox and electronic limited-slip rear differential. The unit is mounted above the rear axle along with the batteries, where it is said to benefit weight distribution and handling. In slippery conditions, an excess of electric motive force at the rear end is diverted via the propshaft to the front wheels.
The F1 connection comes in the shape of the 6.1kWh lithium-ion battery, the design of which is said to be inspired by the batteries in the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 race cars. The priority, therefore, was not big range – hence the limited electric-only distance – but fast energy draw and high power density, said to be twice that of conventional drive batteries. Low weight was also important, and the battery pack weighs in at 89kg.
The key to the power density is how the battery cells are kept cool. Fourteen litres of coolant pumped from top to bottom through the entire battery pack ensures the cells keep their cool even when the car is being driven flat out in Race mode on a circuit.