Mercedes-AMG Black Series models to return

The Black Series badge will return on an unspecified AMG model in the future, according to boss Tobias Moers, who also admitted development of hybrid technology was in the works at Mercedes’ performance arm.

Speaking to Autocar at the Geneva motor show, Moers said the new Mercedes-AMG GT and Mercedes-AMG C 63 models marked a new dawn for the company under his leadership and a different approach from before.

“We did a review,” he said, “and it’s different now. It’s not all about having 900 Newton metres [664lb ft] of torque at 2000rpm; 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 willl 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 Porsche 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 planned, according to Moers, on a broad selection of models but not of every model in the AMG range.

Moers also said the firm should conduct market research into just how far the brand could stretch in the future, perhaps to a hypothetical price point of half a million euros if it were to create a hypercar in the future.

However, the firm has no plans to launch a hypercar (nor a mid-engined V8 supercar, contrary to reports in the Australian media). Moers said AMG was “not in that league” at present, and part of AMG’s ethos was to provide “performance and value”.

“But it’s a question for me too,” he said, when debating whether such a model could exist.

At present, Moers says he is happy to be associated with Pagani and its hypercars through an engine supply deal for V12s. He added that the V12 engine still had a future.