AMG - performance becomes passion

Automobile enthusiasts the world over are familiar with the catchy ring of the AMG name. The letters do not stand for "Affalterbacher Motoren-Gesellschaft", but for the company founder Hans Werner Aufrecht, his companion Erhard Melcher, and Aufrecht's place of birth, Grossaspach.

Founded in 1967 as a racing engine forge, AMG soon saw owners of Mercedes' sedans queuing up for the high HP-engines for their luxury vehicles. Success was not long in coming - AMG ultimately faced very little competition in this segment. Nearly 40 years have passed since then, yet AMG's core strength is still grounded in the fulfillment of the most diverse of customer wishes. The technology transfer from the race circuit to the road is still an integral part of the company's philosophy, which is to the benefit of every Mercedes AMG customer.

The operating environment has changed radically over the last four decades: While improvisational skills dominated the daily course of events during the pioneering days at AMG, today, the focus is on professionalism - in particular since 1999, when AMG was incorporated into DaimlerChrysler AG and became Mercedes-AMG GmbH. Based on Mercedes-Benz's core values - quality, security, comfort and environmental friendliness - the same high standards that apply for any other vehicle with the famous star are brought to bear during the development and production of every AMG high-performance automobile. Since each AMG model is a genuine Mercedes Benz, Mercedes Benz's extensive servicing and warranty services are also available for vehicles with the AMG logo.

The above was made possible by the early involvement of Mercedes Car Group in the strategy and product phases. From the beginning of the design stage, new high-performance AMG vehicles are integrated in the product requirement specifications. In the same way as for all Mercedes Benz vehicles, these run through all development stages until a vehicle is ready to enter production. All resources of the Mercedes Car Group - including all the Group's high-tech test benches - are available to Mercedes AMG as part of these processes. An independent Mercedes-AMG test center at the Nuremberg Ring also aids in the implementation of particularly demanding AMG-specific development and test programs on the racecourse's North loop, which is generally acknowledged as the most difficult stretch of track in the world.

Today, Mercedes-AMG GmbH offers all the automobile functions in the closest of spaces - above all the development and production of the high-performance engines. The development processes for the chassis, engine, drive system, suspension, braking, electronics, aerodynamics, interior and design departments yield desirable AMG products for demanding customers across the world. The portfolio is sufficient to satisfy the most varied of customer requests: Customers can chose from a total of 16 unique AMG high-performance automobiles with a performance spectrum from 265/360 HP to 450 kW/612 HP. Fascinating driving dynamics, unrivalled sovereignty, suitability for everyday use, and typical Mercedes long-distance comfort are the overriding qualities of the unmistakable AMG vehicles.

Mercedes-AMG GmbH, which is headquartered in Affalterbach, currently employs around 700 employees - all of whom are skilled and dedicated specialists whose professional endeavors are led by the permanent quest for high performance and precision. This becomes particularly clear during a visit to the modern AMG engine manufacturer, where the high-HP eight and twelve cylinder engines are manufactured in line with the most stringent of quality standards in keeping with the traditional philosophy "one man, one engine." A single engineer is responsible for assembling the entire high-performance AMG engine, from installing the crankshaft in the cylinder block, through mounting the camshaft to the wiring and filling up the engine oil. A signature on a specially designed engine badge bears witness to this responsibility. Following successful assembly and extensive bench testing, the AMG engines are dispatched just in time to the relevant production locations in Sindelfingen (D), Bremen (D), Graz (A), Woking (GB, McLaren Cars) and Tuscaloosa (USA), where they are built into AMG vehicles.

In addition to high-performance engines and complete vehicles, Mercedes-AMG develops special sports equipment and accessories for all Mercedes-Benz passenger cars. The newly opened AMG performance studio can fulfils the most specific of wishes. This is where seasoned professionals realize exclusive and dynamic small series vehicles in traditional single piece production along with unmistakable single-edition automobile - while making the highest quality and safety demands.