Story and photos by Andreas Conradt, Automedia
Mercedes-AMG Developing 1,000-Plus-hp SUV
SEMA News sources recently snapped the first new images of Mercedes-AMG's new, 1,000-hp SUV currently in development.
The second model to be built on AMG's EA platform, the new SUV will be purely electric and produce more than 1,000 hp, sources said. The super SUV is expected to compete against the BMW XM and the Lotus Eletre, Lamborghini Urus and Ferrari Purosangue.
Mercedes-AMG is expected to present the new EA platform at the end of 2025 and launch in 2026 with not only its own cell chemistry, but new engines. The axial flux motor is compact yet still delivers high performance. A single axial flux motor delivers 486 hp and weighs just 52 lbs.
On the EA platform, one motor is installed on the front axle and one on the rear axle. The system output of the AMG.EA models is around 972 hp.
Additionally, a version of the still-unnamed SUV is expected to have two engines on the rear axle and one engine at the front, pushing output well beyond 1400 hp, according to insiders.
Volkswagen Taigo to Get Facelift in European Markets
If its recent update to the South America-focused Nivus is any indication, Volkswagen is expected to give the Taigo a facelift for the European market. In fact, SEMA News sources recently spotted a prototype of the refreshed Taigo in the north of Scandinavia.
The VW Taigo and Nivus, both of which are based on the MQB-A0 platform, differ in terms of powertrains. While the European version is available with either a 1.0L three-cylinder or 1.5L four-cylinder engine, the South American model is limited to the small engine. When fueled with ethanol, this delivers up to 116 hp, which is surpassed in European markets by the four-cylinder and up to 150 hp.
Mercedes-Benz GLC Spotted Without Camouflage
A pioneer of electric mobility in Germany, Mercedes-Benz has long begun testing its second-generation, all-electric midsize SUV. But two things have changed since SEMA News sources last caught the car undergoing testing in August 2023: the car will no longer be called the "EQC" as Mercedes-Benz drops the "EQ" moniker for its electric vehicles (EV), and the lack of camouflage.
Although there is still some camo over the front fascia and rear lamps, the overall shape of the SUV is revealed in the new images. Expected to arrive in late 2025, the GLC will likely compete with similarly sized models from Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Tesla.
The new GLC EV will be based on the all-new, all-electric C-Class EV sedan, which is scheduled for a 2025 or 2026 launch, and was once thought to replace today's gas- and diesel-powered C-Class. Nonetheless, the GLC will come with conventional gas engines, too.
Under the sleek body is the new MB.EA architecture for medium-sized and large vehicles. Contrary to what was originally planned, the drive technology presented in the EQXX is not only finding its way into the smaller vehicles but also into the MB.EA series.
This means it will likely feature 800-V technology, a modern, efficiency-enhancing silicon-carbide inverter, radial flux motors with an expected 250 to 500 hp, rear- or all-wheel drive, all-wheel steering and a two-speed gearbox to enhance economy even further. On the battery side, Mercedes will significantly increase the current energy density with a 110-kWh battery. Around 100 kWh are also conceivable in the C-Class EV saloon and this GLC EV, which ideally would be enough for almost 621 miles.