Mercedes-AMG could offer hybrids by 2020

Mercedes-AMG has revealed that it could resort to offering hybrid models in the coming years in a bid to comply with the strict emissions regulations that are scheduled to come into effect across Europe.

Mercedes-AMG parent company Daimler needs to lower its fleet-wide emissions to just 101 grams of CO2 per kilometer by 2020 in order to avoid getting fined by the European Union. 95 percent of its models will need to conform to the new rules in 2020, but the following year EU officials will factor in the emissions of every single car that Daimler sells regardless of size and power.

Interestingly, Mercedes research and development boss Thomas Weber explained that the need for a hybrid-powered AMG stems purely from government regulations, not from customer demand.

“We haven’t done it so far, because right now the customer wouldn’t buy it. AMG customers tell us they want the sportiest performance option available in any given sector of the performance market. We don’t know when they will be ready for hybrid,” said the executive in an interview with English magazine Autocar.

What model line will usher in AMG’s first-ever hybrid drivetrain is anyone’s guess. Similarly, it is too early to tell precisely what the drivetrain will consist of, but Weber hinted it will most likely be a mild hybrid system with a small motor and a compact battery pack. A mild hybrid system isn’t the most efficient solution but it’s light and cheap to build.