AMG is Mercedes’ performance sub-brand. Those three letters stand for “Aufrecht Melcher Grossaspach” – the first two words are the names of AMG’s founders, while the third is the name of the city in Germany where Aufrecht was born.
Today, there is an AMG version of almost every vehicle in the lineup. AMGs are offered in five different flavors – 35, 43, 45, 53, and 63 – depending on the model, with performance increasing substantially as you climb the ladder. In the past, these numbers signified the sizes of the engines in the cars, but today, they’re more of a tribute than anything else.
In addition, the company has created “S” versions that denote slightly better performance than regular AMG models, and the latest addition has become the “S E Performance” moniker. These AMG models use plug-in electrification, like the SL 63 E Performance and AMG GT 63 S E Performance, and ascribe to the school of thought that more is better.
And then you get Black Series. Applied only to fixed roof coupes, a Black Series-badged AMG is the most hardcore an AMG model can get, with lower, stiffened suspension, a stripped-out interior, and the most raucous powertrain imaginable.
