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A new benchmark for electric endurance
Mercedes‑AMG's GT XX concept — a high‑performance super‑saloon that previews the next AMG GT 4‑door coupé — has shattered electric distance records, covering a claimed 3,405 miles in 24 hours at the Nardò test track in Italy. Independently verified, the run recorded an average speed of 186 mph and relied on ultra‑fast charging stops of up to 900 kW to minimize downtime.
Record summary and campaign highlights
The 24‑hour distance mark eclipses the recent XPeng P7 record of 2,461 miles and also improves on earlier attempts by the Xiaomi YU7 Max (2,451 miles) and the Mercedes‑Benz CLA (2,310 miles). The GT XX's achievement was part of an eight‑day intensive test program on Nardò's 7.8‑mile high‑speed oval, during which Mercedes‑AMG claimed multiple endurance and distance benchmarks.
Beyond the 24‑hour figure, AMG reported new records for 12, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144 and 168 hours, and distance milestones at 2,000; 5,000; 10,000; 15,000; 20,000 and 25,000 miles. The headline feat was a non‑stop circumnavigation equivalent: the GT XX covered 24,907 miles — the planet's approximate circumference — in seven days, 13 hours, 24 minutes and 7.10 seconds, in a challenge dubbed 'Around the World in 80 Days' in homage to Jules Verne.
Team, logistics and test procedure
Mercedes‑AMG used two GT XX prototypes and a roster of 17 professional drivers drawn from its GT3 motorsport program, including Mercedes‑AMG F1 driver George Russell. Drivers rotated in three shifts with five drivers on track for each eight‑hour stint. A dedicated trackside engineering and logistics crew worked alongside a mission control team in Affalterbach that coordinated charging strategy, with more than 100 personnel supporting the eight‑day campaign.
How the GT XX achieved the records
Mercedes‑AMG credits the car's advanced electric drivetrain, thermal management and charging strategy for the record runs. According to CEO Michael Schiebe, the GT XX pairs two axial‑flux motors at the rear with a third motor up front, operating on an 800‑volt architecture and delivering a combined output of about 1,341 bhp. This high‑power layout provides significant performance while enabling high‑speed charging and stable thermal behavior during prolonged high‑speed runs.
Battery technology and fast charging
The GT XX uses a 114 kWh cylindrical‑cell battery pack developed in‑house with support from AMG's Formula 1 powertrain division in Brixworth. The cells are oil‑immersed and cooled directly with a 40‑litre coolant loop kept at constant temperature. AMG says oil‑immersion improves heat transfer compared with conventional systems, allowing sustained ultra‑high charging rates without accelerated degradation.
That thermal advantage underpinned an energy replenishment strategy using very short, frequent rapid charges at between 850 kW and 900 kW — a capability Mercedes says enabled theoretical top‑ups of around 249 miles in about five minutes. Short pit stops plus a carefully selected cruising speed were central to maximizing distance in a fixed time window.
Speed strategy and simulations
Although the prototype could run faster, reconnaissance runs and simulations identified 186 mph as the optimal sustainable pace that balanced lap speed with the number and duration of charging stops to yield the fastest overall distance completion times.
Vehicle specifications and performance targets
Key published GT XX specifications and engineering highlights:
- Drivetrain: Tri‑motor (two rear axial‑flux, one front)
- Architecture: 800‑volt system
- Peak power: ~1,341 bhp
- Battery: 114 kWh cylindrical cells, oil‑immersed direct cooling
- Charging capability: Up to 900 kW
- Demonstrated 24‑hour distance: 3,405 miles at a claimed average 186 mph
Design and market positioning
The GT XX is a concept super‑saloon that previews design and mechanical direction for Mercedes‑AMG's next GT 4‑door Coupé. While not a production car itself, the GT XX acts as a technology demonstrator for AMG.EA platform‑based models. Mercedes has said production derivatives will inherit key elements of the GT XX's mechanical package, with the production GT 4‑Door Coupé due in the UK late in 2026. Targeted production figures include 0‑62 mph in under 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 224 mph, underlining AMG's intent to keep high performance central to its electric strategy.
Comparisons and what this means for EV performance benchmarks
Unlike the production‑derived record holders such as the XPeng P7 and Xiaomi YU7 Max, the GT XX is a prototype designed to validate next‑generation electric tech. Its achievements, however, highlight the growing importance of fast charging, thermal management and high‑power electrical architectures in extending real‑world endurance and average speed for performance EVs. For buyers and enthusiasts, the GT XX's record runs signal that AMG intends to deliver electric models that retain the brand's performance DNA while bringing advanced battery and charging capabilities to market.
Outlook: From prototype to showrooms
Mercedes‑AMG's Nardò campaign continues the marque's tradition of pushing engineering boundaries — a lineage that dates back to experimental cars like the C111. The GT XX's records are a tangible preview of the capabilities Mercedes aims to commercialize on the AMG.EA platform, including a planned 1,000 bhp super‑SUV slated for the UK in 2027. For performance EV buyers, that roadmap promises seriously rapid charging, dramatic straight‑line speed and sustained high‑speed endurance in future AMG electrified models.
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