Mercedes-AMG Built Its First In-House SUV And It Makes 1,153 Horsepower
Mercedes-AMG has spent 59 years building some of the fastest sedans and coupes on the road, but it never built a full-size SUV entirely on its own. That changes with the 2028 Mercedes-AMG GT SUV, which the performance division confirmed today as the first full-size SUV developed completely in-house at its Affalterbach headquarters. It’s also the second vehicle to ride on the AMG.EA high-performance architecture, the dedicated platform underpinning AMG’s electrified future.
The headline number is hard to ignore: the range-topping AMG GT 63 SUV produces a peak output of 1,153 hp. Just as significant is the sustained figure of up to 711 hp of continuous output, a number AMG says sets a new standard for the segment. The new GT SUV arrives at U.S. dealerships in summer 2027, with three variants at launch: the GT 63 SUV, the GT 55 SUV, and the GT 53 SUV entry model.
Why In-House Development Matters For AMG
AMG has built plenty of SUVs before, but always starting from a Mercedes-Benz platform and reworking it with AMG power and chassis tuning. The GT SUV is different. Mercedes-AMG designed it from the ground up itself, which gives the brand control over everything from weight distribution to seating position rather than adapting an existing structure. AMG says that approach delivers a sporty seating position, a low center of gravity, and a low, dynamic silhouette, while modern lightweight construction concepts help offset the weight a three-motor, 800-volt system typically adds. The goal, according to AMG, is sports car character wrapped in genuine SUV presence and practicality, not a compromise between the two.
Three Motors And A Formula 1-Derived Battery
The drivetrain centers on three axial flux motors, a motor design AMG is using specifically for its ability to deliver fast, repeatable power without the output tailing off under sustained load. Backing that up is an 800-volt battery pack built using technology derived from Formula 1, with directly cooled cylindrical cells designed to manage heat during hard, repeated acceleration runs. That combination is what AMG credits for the 711-hp continuous output figure, distinguishing it from EVs that post strong peak numbers but fade after a few pulls.
Charging is just as aggressive. AMG lists DC fast-charging capacity of up to 710 kW, a figure that would put the GT SUV among the quickest-charging production vehicles on sale when it reaches U.S. dealers.
A New Suspension System Built For Body Control
To keep a vehicle this size and this powerful composed, AMG developed a new suspension system called AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL+. It introduces active pitch and roll stabilization to the AMG lineup for the first time, aimed at keeping the SUV flat under hard cornering and controlled under heavy braking or acceleration. AMG pairs that with highly customizable driving dynamics settings and what it describes as a distinctive sound experience, along with active aerodynamics: an AEROKINETICS roof spoiler and an Airpanel system that manages airflow through the front end. Together, AMG frames these as the pieces that let a full-size SUV behave like one of its sports cars when the road allows it.
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