Mercedes-AMG GT to get 805-hp plug-in powertrain?

The plug-in system will replace the V12 in the AMG portfolio.

Mercedes-AMG is phasing out its mighty V12 engine to make room for a range-topping plug-in hybrid powertrain. The company confirmed the technology was under development in 2018, and a recent report sheds more insight into what we can expect from it when it reaches showrooms.

AMG previewed its high-performance hybrid powertrain with the GT Concept (pictured) unveiled during the 2017 Geneva auto show. The system's components won't change much as it transitions from a concept to production. British magazine Autocar reported the centerpiece will be AMG's twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8. It will spin the rear wheels, while an electric motor will zap the front wheels into motion, delivering through-the-road all-wheel drive.

We don't know anything about the battery system yet, but the preliminary numbers are impressive. The system's total output will check in at about 805 horsepower.

Final specifications will depend on the model the technology is installed in. Autocar learned the GT Four-Door will inaugurate the hybrid system. Called GT73, the model will reach 62 mph from a stop in under three seconds, yet it will be capable of driving on electricity alone for up to 31 miles. The effect the weight added by the hybrid system will have on handling remains to be seen.

We expect the Mercedes-AMG GT73 will make its debut in the coming months, and arrive in showrooms either as a 2020 or a 2021 model. Other members of the AMG family -- including, possibly, the S-Class and the G-Class -- will receive the 73 powertrain during the early 2020s.

Photo by Ronan Glon.