What does Mercedes-AMG stand for?
Mercedes Aufrecht, Melcher and Großaspach (AKA Mercedes-AMG), is the performance branch of the iconic German automotive marque Mercedes-Benz, and is named after the two engineers that founded the AMG name in 1967.
Whilst the AMG branding is recognised worldwide, it can be difficult to understand what a Mercedes-AMG car actually entails. In this article, we will explore Mercedes-AMG in more detail and answer some commonly asked questions related to the high performance outfit.
- The history of Mercedes-AMG
- What does Mercedes-AMG mean?
- Best Mercedes-AMG cars
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Mercedes-AMG cars
- Frequently asked questions
The history of Mercedes-AMG
Mercedes-AMG was founded by two ambitious individuals that had an affection for racing. After Daimler-Benz ceased all its motorsports operations, Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher (who were working for Daimler-Benz at the time), continued to fine tune the 300 SE racing engine in their spare time, and in 1965, it was ready to race.
A car powered by Aufrecht and Melcher's engine won 10 times in the German Touring Car Championship, forming the foundations of the Mercedes-AMG brand. While highly successful on track, Aufrecht's vision was for road vehicles to be inspired by their motorsport pedigree, and began modifying Mercedes-Benz cars to fit the AMG language.
After more success as an engine manufacturer, AMG and Daimler-Benz began working together as official racing partners in the late '80s, before signing a cooperation contract in 1990. Since then, Mercedes-AMG has been delivering some of the most impressive performance cars to customers around the world.
What does Mercedes-AMG mean?
As the high performance branch of the Mercedes-Benz brand, Mercedes-AMG cars are some of the most exciting cars available. Often featuring larger engines and more power, if a car is badged AMG, you know it will get your heart racing.
However, to make the AMG range more accessible, Mercedes-Benz introduced various trims to its models, such as AMG Line and AMG Sport. These trims usually do not feature eye-watering amounts of power like their 'proper' AMG siblings, but they look the part, featuring AMG styling and a range of additional extras.
Best Mercedes-AMG cars
There are a variety of the Mercedes-AMG cars to choose from, but these are some of the most popular:
A-Class
The entry-level model welcoming you into the high-performance world that is AMG. However, the A-Class AMG is anything but entry-level.
CLA
Bridging the gap between a traditional hatchback and saloon, AMG CLA offers the best of both worlds, only this time with incredible track-inspired performance.
E-Class
Displaying a perfect concoction of scintillating performance, refinement and ultimate luxury; the AMG E-Class is truly remarkable.
GT
A one-of-a-kind creation. As only the second car to be created fully in-house by Mercedes-AMG, the AMG GT is a serious performance benchmark.
Advantages and disadvantages of Mercedes-AMG cars
As with all cars, there are a range of pros and cons related to the Mercedes-AMG range that are worth considering before purchasing one.
Advantages
- Heightened performance
- Exhilarating to drive
- Sharp aesthetics
- Cutting-edge technology
- More desirable, so tend to hold their value better
Disadvantages
- Cost more to buy due to additional equipment
- Expensive to run and maintain
- Due to sports suspension and chassis, they can be less comfortable than a regular Mercedes-Benz
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell if it is a Mercedes-AMG?
The 'proper' Mercedes-AMG cars we mentioned previously will be titled Mercedes-AMG instead of Mercedes-Benz, so that is the first sign to look out for. Other tell-tale signs include an aggressive design language, a more dynamic engine note, and of course, AMG badges placed around the car.
How much are Mercedes-AMG cars?
Due to the additional extras that often come with Mercedes-AMG cars, they do come at a higher price than your standard Mercedes-Benz car. However, you will be getting your money's worth.
Mercedes-AMG: The pinnacle of performance
The history of Mercedes-AMG is one that is rich with motorsport and automotive pedigree. Having crafted plenty of iconic cars throughout the years, its stance as one of the leading high performance branches is set to continue thanks to innovation and implementation of motorsport-inspired features.
We are proud to offer a range of excellent Mercedes-AMG examples within both our new and used car inventories, and you can experience one yourself with a test drive at your nearest Mercedes-Benz retailer.
