KNOWING YOUR AMGS

The letters stand for Aufrecht, Melcher, and Grossaspach, the A and M for the names of its founding engineers and the G for Melcher’s German hometown. More simply, AMG translates to speed: Born in 1967 in an old mill in Burgstall, AMG developed racing engines for Mercedes. Roomier digs in Affalterbach saw AMG deliver race winners and street assassins, including “the Hammer,” a 300E AMG 5.6 that reached nearly 190 mph—unheard of for a sedan in 1986. Now fully absorbed as Mercedes’ performance division, AMG is going gangbusters, selling more than 40,000 badged models in 2014. It’s currently developing some models entirely in-house, including the AMG GT. Yet even with 24 models on tap by 2016, the “One man, one engine” motto remains sacrosanct: AMG engines are handassembled by a single technician whose signature is engraved into each plate.

MERCEDES’ PERFORMANCE DIVISION IS QUICKLY BECOMING THE FACE OF FAST. BUT SPEED IS NOTHING NEW TO THE BRAND.