Mercedes AMG GT XX Record Run Explained: 40,075 km in 7.5 Days at 220 km/h

Key Points

• The Mercedes AMG Concept GT XX EV covered 40,075 km in 7.5 days at the Nardò high-speed track in Italy, completing the equivalent of Earth's circumference at an average 220 km/h.

• It shattered 25 world records, including a 5,479 km 24-hour distance record, surpassing the previous Xiaomi YU7 record by 38%, while consistently averaging ~5,300 km daily.

• Built on the forthcoming AMG.EA electric platform, the Mercedes AMG GT XX integrates three axial flux motors (1,360+ hp), immersive oil cooled NCMA cylindrical battery cells, and average 850 kW ultra fast charging with CCS that delivers 400 km range in just 5 minutes.

The Record That Changes the EV Conversation

Common concerns about EVs include range anxiety, charging speeds, and durability under sustained use. Mercedes AMG has now delivered a compelling response to these doubts.

At Italy's Nardò high-speed test track, the Concept AMG GT XX covered 40,075 km, equivalent to Earth's circumference, in just 7 days, 13 hours, and 24 minutes.

Not one car, but two prototypes, ran simultaneously. They were driven at 300 km/h, stopping only for ultra fast charging sessions averaging 850 kW, in conditions as hot as 35°C. After more than 3,100 laps, they finished just 25 km apart.

This wasn’t just about breaking records. It demonstrates that next-generation EV architecture can match or exceed the endurance and consistency of traditional combustion technology.

Key Highlights From Nardò

• 40,075 km completed in under 8 days, equivalent to Earth's circumference

• 25 performance records in a single test program

• 5,479 km in 24 hours, shattering the previous EV record of XPENG P7 and Xiaomi YU7, 3,961 km and 3,944 km in 24 hours respectively, by 38%

• Sustained 300 km/h cruising speed, recharging at 850 kW CCS2 connectors (400 km in 5 minutes)

• Performance held steady despite 35°C ambient heat and hotter track surface temps

• 3,177 laps of the 12.68 km Nardò circuit, day and nightXpeng P7 achieved a distance of 3,961 km in its 24-hour endurance test.

Breaking Down the Data

To put the achievement in context, let’s look at the numbers behind it and what they tell us about AMG’s electric performance.

1. Cumulative Distance vs Average Speed

• By 24 hours, the Mercedes AMG GT XX had already logged 5,479 km, setting a new 24-hour EV distance record.

• The previous record holder, XPENG P7 and Xiaomi YU7, had achieved 3,961 km and 3,944 km in 24 hours. Mercedes AMG GT XX beat it by 38%.

• Over the full week, Mercedes AMG GT XX averaged ~5,300 km per day, essentially beating Xiaomi’s record every single day for seven days straight.

• Average speed over the whole week: It started at 229 km/h and remained impressively stable, ending at 221 km/h.

2. Daily Distance Performance

• For six consecutive days, both prototypes covered 5,200–5,400 km per day.

• On Day 8, within 13 hours and 24 min, 2,814 km were covered and the had travelled across the earth circumference.

• This repeatability shows not just brute force but thermal and mechanical stability over a marathon.

3. Daily Average Speed

• Even under varying conditions (tire changes, driver swaps, charging cycles), average speed stayed consistently above 220 km/h.

• On Day 6, the cars climbed back to 220.5 km/h, showing resilience after days of sustained load.

• By the final day, average speed had dropped to 210 km/h. A likely factor: as the days progressed, batteries reached higher baseline temperatures, meaning charging sessions took longer to balance cell temperatures.

4. Daily Time Allocation: Driving vs Resting

• Each day, the Mercedes AMG GT XXs drove at ~300 km/h for 17–18 hours, with the remaining 6 hours spent on charging and pit operations (tire swaps, crew checks, driver changes).

• Even on Day 8, when the run concluded early after 13h 24m, the cars still managed 9h+ of driving at record pace.

• This breakdown shows that the average 220 km/h speed across the week wasn’t due to the cars slowing down, but the balance between flat-out stints and unavoidable downtime.

Why 300 km/h?

The Mercedes AMG GT XX is capable of higher speeds, but engineers optimized the program at 300 km/h. Simulations showed this delivered the best trade-off between track time and charging frequency.

In other words: faster than this, you spend too much time recharging; slower, and you don’t cover maximum ground.

That calculation underscores the maturity of Mercedes AMG’s simulation tools, this wasn’t a publicity stunt, but a performance optimization exercise..

The Nardò Advantage

The record run was conducted at the Nardò Technical Center in southern Italy, one of the most famous proving grounds in the world. Its 12.68 km high-speed oval is perfectly suited for such a test: steeply banked so that at speeds of 240–250 km/h, cars can run almost hands-off as if on a straight road.

At ~300 km/h, the Mercedes AMG prototypes pounded around the ring over 3,177 times across eight days, proving not just peak performance but relentless repeatability.

The Technology Behind the Feat

This record run was a demonstration of the upcoming Mercedes AMG.EA platform, set for production in 2026. Key innovations:

Axial Flux Motors

• Three motors (two rear, one front) delivering over 1,360 hp combined.

• 3x higher power density than radial motors, with smaller size and lower weight.

• Rear motors oil-cooled and packaged with gearbox and inverters in compact housings. Front electric drive acts as a booster motor and is only activated when needed to provide additional power or traction.

• Developed with Mercedes-owned UK specialist YASA, then scaled by AMG for production readiness.

Robust Battery Design and Cooling

• New cylindrical NCMA cells (>300 Wh/kg energy density).

• Each of the 3,000+ cells is cooled individually using non-conductive oil.

• Direct cooling = stable performance under repeated charging and discharging cycles.

• 800 V architecture reduces cabling weight and enables faster charging.

Ultra-Fast Charging

• Consistent 850 kW charging rate, with 400 km range added in ~5 minutes.

• CCS2 connectors were used, highlighting Mercedes AMG GT XX's commitment to real-world standards, even if today’s public infrastructure can’t match this power yet.

• Alpitronic HYC 1000 was used, perhaps with a 1000 kW CCS connector, developed by Phoenix Contact. In some visuals it looked like an Amphenol connector and hence I am confused. But If you want to read in detail, I have written a dedicated article for it, how Mercedes AMG GT XX can charge at 850 kW.

The Human Side: Teamwork & Drivers

This wasn’t just a technological experiment; it was a full-scale endurance race operation.

• Drivers rotated in 2-hour stints around the clock.

• Support crews from Mercedes-AMG, Michelin, and Alpitronic handled tire changes, charging, and pit operations.

• Remote diagnostics teams in Affalterbach monitored systems in real time.

Driver Lineup

The roster included GT, rally, and Formula 1 talent:

• George Russell (Mercedes AMG PETRONAS F1)

• GT drivers Marc Basseng, Marvin Dienst, Luca Stolz, Fabian Vettel

• Rising stars like Doriane Pin (F1 Academy, LMP2, GT racing)

• A mix of international endurance professionals proving the car under diverse driving styles

Official Record Milestones

Along the way, the GT XX hit significant benchmarks:

• 2,000 km in 8h 40m

• 5,000 km in 21h 54m

• 10,000 km in 1d 20h

• 20,000 km in 3d 16h

• 30,000 km in 5d 14h

• 40,000 km in 7d 13h

For perspective:

• Route 66 length ≈ 3,961 km in 17h 14m

• Entire F1 season race distance ≈ 7,300 km in 1d 8h

• Great Wall of China ≈ 21,196 km in 3d 22h

Voices from AMG & the Drivers

• Markus Schäfer, CTO Mercedes-Benz

  “The goal is to redefine the limits of what is technically possible in the age of electric drives. Our mission: to redefine the very standards of performance with groundbreaking technologies and innovations.”

• Michael Schiebe, CEO Mercedes-AMG

  “An AMG has always been defined by its drivetrain. In the electric world, too, our drive system must be convincing across the board. That's why we’re the first manufacturer to use axial flux motors and directly cooled batteries in fully electric models. For customers of our future electric models, this means they will get a genuine AMG – no ifs; no buts.”

• George Russell, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team Driver

  “As an F1 driver, I'm used to pushing technology to its absolute limits – the CONCEPT AMG GT XX really impressed me. The axial flux motors respond as immediately and precisely as a Formula 1 drivetrain, but with an endurance that I have only ever experienced with combustion engines.”

What Mercedes Still Hasn’t Revealed

Despite the achievements, some crucial data points are still missing:

• Battery capacity (kWh), essential for efficiency benchmarking

• Energy consumption (kWh/100 km) at 300 km/h

• How many charging sessions were conducted

• Post-test degradation, how much capacity was lost after hundreds of ultra-fast cycles

For eMobility professionals, these numbers will be just as interesting as the records themselves. Therefore I will try to find these out as well for later editions.

The Bigger Picture

The AMG GT XX proves that:

• EVs can deliver not just acceleration but sustained endurance at extreme performance levels.

• Future AMG EVs will come with repeatable, race-level performance thanks to axial flux motors and oil-cooled batteries.

• Ultra-fast charging will redefine long-distance usability once infrastructure catches up.

With AMG.EA production cars launching in 2026, this isn’t a far-off dream. It’s technology that’s already proven in one of the toughest endurance tests ever run.

The conversation has shifted.

• The age of compromise between electric and performance is over.

• The new question is: can combustion engines keep up?

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Most outlets simply covered the press release. My goal is different, to explain the numbers behind it and what they mean for EV and automotive professionals

Till next time!

Haseeb